Absorbent article including containment flaps

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article having a first and a second containment flap each having a stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The absorbent article can include a first and a second folding line for packaging each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flaps can be positioned in the absorbent article such that the distal end of the outer flap projections can be positioned laterally inside of each folding line, the distal ends of the inner flap projections can be positioned laterally outside of each folding line, or such that the first fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the first containment flap and the second fold line extends through at least a portion of the inner or the outer flap projection of the second containment flap.

BACKGROUND

One of the primary functions of personal care absorbent articles is toretain and absorb body exudates such as urine, fecal material, blood,and menses. Along these lines, a desired attribute of personal careabsorbent articles is to minimize the leakage of such exudates from theabsorbent article. To assist in achieving this function, absorbentarticles can include leg containment flaps in the crotch region of theabsorbent article. These containment flaps can be designed to provide agasket, or seal, against a wearer's skin to prevent leakage of theexudates from the absorbent article, as well as to contain the exudatesin a specific area of the absorbent article such that the exudates canbe properly distributed, further contained, and/or absorbed by variouscomponents of the absorbent article.

Various configurations of containment flaps and methods of formingcontainment flaps are known. For example, one common configuration is tohave a containment flap on each side of the longitudinal axis of theabsorbent article by providing a length of material with one or moreelastic strands contained in the material, the length of materialextending substantially along the length of the absorbent article. Theelastic strand(s) can adhere to the strip of material to gather eachcontainment flap in the crotch region of the absorbent article when theabsorbent article is in a relaxed condition such that the materialstands up or extends away from the absorbent article. The top edge ofeach vertical containment flap is configured to contact the wearer'sskin along the length of the containment flap to form a seal againstexudates. However, the limited area of contact between the top edge ofeach vertical containment flap along the wearer's skin can provide lessthan desirable gasketing properties in some circumstances

While other configurations of containment flaps are known that increasethe area of contact with the wearer's skin, many have only beentheorized and present manufacturing complexities and/or packagingdrawbacks not initially realized. As an example, other containment flapsystems for absorbent articles that provide increased contact area withthe wearer's skin do not address packaging concerns such as fold linesin the absorbent article and the interactions of such fold lines withthe functioning of the containment flaps to contain body exudates. Theseprior containment flap system also do not address how to use packagingfold lines as a way to selectively alter the shape of the containmentflaps to provide further gasketing benefits with the wearer's skin.

Thus, there is a need for an absorbent article having containment flapswhich can provide an improved gasket with the wearer's skin, yet stillprovide reduced irritation on the wearer's skin. There is also a needfor a method of producing such containment flaps. Additionally, there isa need for an absorbent article can be packaged with fold lines that areselectively positioned so as to fully utilize the performancecharacteristics of the containment flaps and/or to selectively alter theshape of a portion of the containment flaps to provide enhancedgasketing properties with the wearer's skin.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an absorbent article can include a longitudinal axisand a lateral axis, a front end region, a rear end region, and a crotchregion. The crotch region can be disposed between the front end regionand the rear end region. The absorbent article can further include afront end edge in the front end region, a rear end edge in the rear endregion, and a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinalside edge. The first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinalside edge can each extend from the front end edge to the rear end edge.The absorbent article can also include a body facing liner comprising abody facing surface and a garment facing surface, a backsheet coupled tothe body facing liner, and an absorbent body positioned between the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet. The absorbent article can additionallyinclude a first containment flap and a second containment flap. Thefirst containment flap and the second containment flap can each extendfrom the front end region to the rear end region. The first containmentflap can be on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the secondcontainment flap can be on a second side of the longitudinal axis. Thefirst containment flap and the second containment flap can each includea stem, an inner flap projection, and an outer flap projection. The stemcan be bonded to one of the body facing liner and the backsheet. Thestem can be configured to extend away from the body facing surface ofthe body facing liner and the backsheet in at least the crotch regionwhen the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition. The inner flapprojection can extend laterally from the stem towards the longitudinalaxis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed condition. At least aportion of the inner flap projection can be elasticized. The outer flapprojection can extend laterally from the stem away from the longitudinalaxis and the inner flap projection to a distal end when the absorbentarticle is in the relaxed condition. At least a portion of the outerflap projection can be elasticized. The absorbent article can furtherinclude a first fold line for packaging that can be substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis on the first side of the longitudinalaxis. The first fold line can extend from the front end edge to the rearend edge. The absorbent article can further include a second fold linefor packaging that can be substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis on the second side of the longitudinal axis and that can extendfrom the front end edge to the rear end edge. The distal end of theouter flap projection of the first containment flap can be positionedlaterally inside of the first folding line when the absorbent article isin an unfolded and stretched condition.

In another embodiment, an absorbent article can include a longitudinalaxis and a lateral axis, a front end region, a rear end region, and acrotch region. The crotch region can be disposed between the front endregion and the rear end region. The absorbent article can furtherinclude a front end edge in the front end region, a rear end edge in therear end region, and a first longitudinal side edge and a secondlongitudinal side edge. The first longitudinal side edge and the secondlongitudinal side edge can each extend from the front end edge to therear end edge. The absorbent article can also include a body facingliner comprising a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, abacksheet coupled to the body facing liner, and an absorbent bodypositioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet. Theabsorbent article can additionally include a first containment flap anda second containment flap. The first containment flap and the secondcontainment flap can each extend from the front end region to the rearend region. The first containment flap can be on a first side of thelongitudinal axis and the second containment flap can be on a secondside of the longitudinal axis. The first containment flap and the secondcontainment flap can each include a stem, an inner flap projection, andan outer flap projection. The stem can be bonded to one of the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet. The stem can be configured to extendaway from the body facing surface of the body facing liner and thebacksheet in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is ina relaxed condition. The stem of the first containment flap being can bepositioned laterally inward of the first longitudinal side edge and thestem of the second containment flap can be positioned laterally inwardof the second longitudinal side edge. The inner flap projection canextend laterally from the stem towards the longitudinal axis to a distalend when the absorbent article is in the relaxed condition. At least aportion of the inner flap projection can be elasticized. The outer flapprojection can extend laterally from the stem away from the longitudinalaxis and the inner flap projection when the absorbent article is in therelaxed condition. At least a portion of the outer flap projection canbe elasticized. The absorbent article can further include a first foldline for packaging that can be substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis on the first side of the longitudinal axis. The firstfold line can extend from the front end edge to the rear end edge. Theabsorbent article can further include a second fold line for packagingthat can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on thesecond side of the longitudinal axis and that can extend from the frontend edge to the rear end edge. The distal end of the inner flapprojection of the first containment flap can be positioned laterallyoutside of the first folding line when the absorbent article is in anunfolded and stretched condition.

In yet another embodiment, an absorbent article can include alongitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a front end region, a rear endregion, and a crotch region. The crotch region can be disposed betweenthe front end region and the rear end region. The absorbent article canfurther include a front end edge in the front end region, a rear endedge in the rear end region, and a first longitudinal side edge and asecond longitudinal side edge. The first longitudinal side edge and thesecond longitudinal side edge can each extend from the front end edge tothe rear end edge. The absorbent article can also include a body facingliner comprising a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, abacksheet coupled to the body facing liner, and an absorbent bodypositioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet. Theabsorbent article can additionally include a first containment flap anda second containment flap. The first containment flap and the secondcontainment flap can each extend from the front end region to the rearend region. The first containment flap can be on a first side of thelongitudinal axis and the second containment flap can be on a secondside of the longitudinal axis. The first containment flap and the secondcontainment flap can each include a stem, an inner flap projection, andan outer flap projection. The stem can be bonded to one of the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet. The stem can be configured to extendaway from the body facing surface of the body facing liner and thebacksheet in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is ina relaxed condition. The stem can extend substantially parallel to thebody facing surface of the body facing liner and the backsheet when theabsorbent article is in a stretched condition. The inner flap projectioncan extend laterally from the stem towards the longitudinal axis whenthe absorbent article is in the relaxed condition and can extendsubstantially parallel to the stem towards the longitudinal axis whenthe absorbent article is in the stretched condition. At least a portionof the inner flap projection can be elasticized. The outer flapprojection can extend laterally from the stem away from the longitudinalaxis and the inner flap projection when the absorbent article is in therelaxed condition and can substantially parallel to the stem and awayfrom the longitudinal axis when the absorbent article is in thestretched condition. At least a portion of the outer flap projection canbe elasticized. The absorbent article can further include a first foldline for packaging a first that can be substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis and be on the first side of the longitudinal axis. Thefirst fold line can extend from the front end edge to the rear end edge.The first fold line can extend through at least a portion of the firstcontainment flap including through at least one of the inner flapprojection of the first containment flap and the outer flap projectionof the first containment flap when the absorbent article is in anunfolded and stretched condition. The absorbent article can furtherinclude a second fold line for packaging that can be substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis and be on the second side of thelongitudinal axis. The second fold line can extend from the front endedge to the rear end edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure thereof, directed to one of ordinaryskill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of thespecification, which makes reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anabsorbent article, such as a diaper, in a fastened condition.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1, in anunfastened, stretched, and laid flat condition with the body facingsurface of the absorbent article which contacts the wearer facing theviewer.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1, withportions cut away for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section, exploded view of a crotch region of theabsorbent article of FIG. 1 taken when the absorbent article is in arelaxed condition.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section, exploded view of a front waist region of theabsorbent article of FIG. 1 taken when the absorbent article is in arelaxed condition.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section, exploded view of a rear waist region of theabsorbent article of FIG. 1 taken when the absorbent article is in arelaxed condition.

FIG. 7 is a process diagram showing an exemplary method of forming acontainment system for an absorbent article shown in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of a step of the method shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbentarticle, such as a training pant, in a fastened condition.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbentarticle, such as a feminine hygiene product.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in astretched, laid flat condition and illustrating potential locations forpackaging fold lines.

FIG. 19 is a cross-section, exploded view of a crotch region of theabsorbent article of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross-section, exploded view of the body facing liner andcontainment flaps in the crotch region of the absorbent article of FIG.1 in a stretched, laid flat condition and illustrating alternativepackaging fold lines.

FIG. 21 is a cross-section, exploded view of a crotch region of theabsorbent article having the packaging fold lines of FIG. 20 when theabsorbent article is in a relaxed, unfolded condition.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section, exploded view of the body facing liner andcontainment flaps in the crotch region of the absorbent article of FIG.1 in a stretched, laid flat condition and illustrating alternativepackaging fold lines.

FIG. 23 is a cross-section, exploded view of a crotch region of theabsorbent article having the packaging fold lines of FIG. 22 when theabsorbent article is in a relaxed, unfolded condition.

FIG. 24 is a cross-section, exploded view of the body facing liner andcontainment flaps in the crotch region of the absorbent article of FIG.1 in a stretched, laid flat condition and illustrating alternativepackaging fold lines.

FIG. 25 is a cross-section, exploded view of a crotch region of theabsorbent article having the packaging fold lines of FIG. 24 when theabsorbent article is in a relaxed, unfolded condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present disclosure is generally directed towardsan absorbent article that can have containment flaps that provide animproved gasket with the wearer's skin as well as an exemplary methodfor producing an absorbent article including such containment flaps.Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as alimitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part ofone embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment or figure toyield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosureinclude such modifications and variations.

DEFINITIONS

The term “absorbent article” refers herein to an article which may beplaced against or in proximity to the body (i.e., contiguous with thebody) of the wearer to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, andsemi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles,as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited periodof use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It isto be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to variousdisposable absorbent articles, including, but not limited to, diapers,training pants, youth pants, swim pants, feminine hygiene products,including, but not limited to, menstrual pads, incontinence products,medical garments, surgical pads and bandages, other personal care orhealth care garments, and the like without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure.

The term “acquisition layer” refers herein to a layer capable ofaccepting and temporarily holding liquid body exudates to decelerate anddiffuse a surge or gush of the liquid body exudates and to subsequentlyrelease the liquid body exudates therefrom into another layer or layersof the absorbent article.

The term “bonded” refers herein to the joining, adhering, connecting,attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be consideredbonded together when they are joined, adhered, connected, attached, orthe like, directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such aswhen each is directly bonded to intermediate elements. The bonding ofone element to another can occur via continuous or intermittent bonds.

The term “carded web” refers herein to a web containing natural orsynthetic staple length fibers typically having fiber lengths less thanabout 100 mm. Bales of staple fibers can undergo an opening process toseparate the fibers which are then sent to a carding process whichseparates and combs the fibers to align them in the machine directionafter which the fibers are deposited onto a moving wire for furtherprocessing. Such webs are usually subjected to some type of bondingprocess such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. In additionto or in lieu thereof, the fibers may be subject to adhesive processesto bind the fibers together such as by the use of powder adhesives. Thecarded web may be subjected to fluid entangling, such ashydroentangling, to further intertwine the fibers and thereby improvethe integrity of the carded web. Carded webs, due to the fiber alignmentin the machine direction, once bonded, will typically have more machinedirection strength than cross machine direction strength.

The term “film” refers herein to a thermoplastic film made using anextrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown filmextrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, andother porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well asfilms which do not transfer fluids, such as, but not limited to, barrierfilms, filled films, breathable films, and oriented films.

The term “fluid entangling” and “fluid entangled” refers herein to aformation process for further increasing the degree of fiberentanglement within a given fibrous nonwoven web or between fibrousnonwoven webs and other materials so as to make the separation of theindividual fibers and/or the layers more difficult as a result of theentanglement. Generally this is accomplished by supporting the fibrousnonwoven web on some type of forming or carrier surface which has atleast some degree of permeability to the impinging pressurized fluid. Apressurized fluid stream (usually multiple streams) can then be directedagainst the surface of the nonwoven web which is opposite the supportedsurface of the web. The pressurized fluid contacts the fibers and forcesportions of the fibers in the direction of the fluid flow thusdisplacing all or a portion of a plurality of the fibers towards thesupported surface of the web. The result is a further entanglement ofthe fibers in what can be termed the Z-direction of the web (itsthickness) relative to its more planar dimension, its X-Y plane. Whentwo or more separate webs or other layers are placed adjacent oneanother on the forming/carrier surface and subjected to the pressurizedfluid, the generally desired result is that some of the fibers of atleast one of the webs are forced into the adjacent web or layer therebycausing fiber entanglement between the interfaces of the two surfaces soas to result in the bonding or joining of the webs/layers together dueto the increased entanglement of the fibers. The degree of bonding orentanglement will depend on a number of factors including, but notlimited to, the types of fibers being used, the fiber lengths, thedegree of pre-bonding or entanglement of the web or webs prior tosubjection to the fluid entangling process, the type of fluid being used(liquids, such as water, steam or gases, such as air), the pressure ofthe fluid, the number of fluid streams, the speed of the process, thedwell time of the fluid and the porosity of the web or webs/other layersand the forming/carrier surface. One of the most common fluid entanglingprocesses is referred to as hydroentangling which is a well-knownprocess to those of ordinary skill in the art of nonwoven webs. Examplesof fluid entangling process can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,016 toRadwanski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,706 to Evans, and U.S. Pat. Nos.4,970,104 and 4,959,531 to Radwanski, each of which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference thereto for all purposes.

The term “gsm” refers herein to grams per square meter.

The term “hydrophilic” refers herein to fibers or the surfaces of fiberswhich are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. Thedegree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in termsof the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids andmaterials involved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring thewettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materialscan be provided by Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or asubstantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibershaving contact angles less than 90 are designated “wettable” orhydrophilic, and fibers having contact angles greater than 90 aredesignated “nonwettable” or hydrophobic.

The term “liquid impermeable” refers herein to a layer or multi-layerlaminate in which liquid body exudates, such as urine, will not passthrough the layer or laminate, under ordinary use conditions, in adirection generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminateat the point of liquid contact.

The term “liquid permeable” refers herein to any material that is notliquid impermeable.

The term “meltblown” refers herein to fibers formed by extruding amolten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usuallycircular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converginghigh velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate thefilaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter,which can be a microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers arecarried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on acollecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers.Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 toButin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblownfibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, aregenerally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and may be tacky andself-bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.

The term “nonwoven” refers herein to materials and webs of materialwhich are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knittingprocess. The materials and webs of materials can have a structure ofindividual fibers, filaments, or threads (collectively referred to as“fibers”) which can be interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner asin a knitted fabric. Nonwoven materials or webs can be formed from manyprocesses such as, but not limited to, meltblowing processes,spunbonding processes, carded web processes, etc.

The term “pliable” refers herein to materials which are compliant andwhich will readily conform to the general shape and contours of thewearer's body.

The term “spunbond” refers herein to small diameter fibers which areformed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from aplurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular orother configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments thenbeing rapidly reduced by a conventional process such as, for example,eductive drawing, and processes that are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Pat. No.3,502,538 to Peterson, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., eachof which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbondfibers are generally continuous and often have average deniers largerthan about 0.3, and in an embodiment, between about 0.6, 5 and 10 andabout 15, 20 and 40. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when theyare deposited on a collecting surface.

The term “superabsorbent” refers herein to a water-swellable,water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the mostfavorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15 times its weightand, in an embodiment, at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueoussolution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modified naturalpolymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent materials can beinorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such ascross-linked polymers.

The term “thermoplastic” refers herein to a material which softens andwhich can be shaped when exposed to heat and which substantially returnsto a non-softened condition when cooled.

The term “user” refers herein to one who fits an absorbent article, suchas, but not limited to, a diaper, training pant, youth pant, incontinentproduct, or other absorbent article about the wearer of one of theseabsorbent articles. A user and a wearer can be one and the same person.

Absorbent Article:

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a non-limiting illustration of an absorbentarticle 10, for example, a diaper, is illustrated. While the embodimentsand illustrations described herein may generally apply to absorbentarticles manufactured in the product longitudinal direction, which ishereinafter called the machine direction manufacturing of a product, itshould be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art could apply theinformation herein to absorbent articles manufactured in the latitudinaldirection of the product, which hereinafter is called the crossdirection manufacturing of a product, without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosure. The absorbent article 10 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 includes a front waist region 12, a rear waist region 14,and a crotch region 16 disposed between the front waist region 12 andthe rear waist region 14 and interconnecting the front and rear waistregions, 12, 14, respectively. The front waist region 12 can be referredto as the front end region, the rear waist region 14 can be referred toas the rear end region, and the crotch region 16 can be referred to asthe intermediate region. The absorbent article 10 has a pair oflongitudinal side edges, 18, 20, and a pair of opposite waist edges,respectively designated front waist edge 22 and rear waist edge 24. Thefront waist region 12 can be contiguous with the front waist edge 22 andthe rear waist region 14 can be contiguous with the rear waist edge 24.The longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can extend from the front waist edge22 to the rear waist edge 24. The absorbent article 10 can have alongitudinal axis 29 and a lateral axis 31.

The absorbent article 10 can include a backsheet 26 and a body facingliner 28. In an embodiment, the body facing liner 28 can be bonded tothe backsheet 26 in a superposed relation by any suitable means such as,but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressurebonds, or other conventional techniques. The backsheet 26 can define alength in a longitudinal direction 30, and a width in the lateraldirection 32, which, in the illustrated embodiment, can coincide withthe length and width of the absorbent article 10. As illustrated in FIG.2, the absorbent article 10 can have a longitudinal axis 29 extending inthe longitudinal direction 30 and a lateral axis 31 extending in thelateral direction 32.

FIG. 3 illustrates the absorbent article 10 with certain portionscut-away for illustrating additional aspects of the absorbent article10. An absorbent body 34 can be disposed between the backsheet 26 andthe body facing liner 28. The absorbent body 34 can have longitudinaledges, 36 and 38, which, in an embodiment, can form portions of thelongitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, respectively, of the absorbentarticle 10 and can have opposite end edges, 40 and 42, which, in anembodiment, can form portions of the waist edges, 22 and 24,respectively, of the absorbent article 10. In an embodiment, theabsorbent body 34 can have a length and width that are the same as orless than the length and width of the absorbent article 10.

The front waist region 12 can include the portion of the absorbentarticle 10 that, when worn, is positioned at least in part on the frontof the wearer while the rear waist region 14 can include the portion ofthe absorbent article 10 that, when worn, is positioned at least in parton the back of the wearer. The crotch region 16 of the absorbent article10 can include the portion of the absorbent article 10, that, when worn,is positioned between the legs of the wearer and can partially cover thelower torso of the wearer. The waist edges, 22 and 24, of the absorbentarticle 10 are configured to encircle the waist of the wearer andtogether define the central waist opening 23. Portions of thelongitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, in the crotch region 16 cangenerally define leg openings when the absorbent article 10 is worn.

The absorbent article 10 can be configured to contain and/or absorbliquid, solid, and semi-solid body exudates discharged from the wearer.For example, containment flaps, 44 and 46, can be configured to providea barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. As illustrated in FIG.3, each containment flap 44, 46 can include an elastic member 48, 50.The elastic members 48, 50 can include one or more elastic strands (fiveare shown in FIG. 3) that are aligned substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10. The containment flaps44, 46 are laterally spaced from one another, such that the containmentflap 44 is on one side of the longitudinal axis 29 and the containmentflap 46 is on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis 29. Thecontainment flaps 44, 46 can be attached to the absorbent article bybeing bonded to the body facing liner 28, as will be further discussedbelow. The containment flaps, 44 and 46, can be located laterally inwardfrom the longitudinal side edges, 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10,and can extend longitudinally along the entire length of absorbentarticle 10 or can extend partially along the length of the absorbentarticle 10.

To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, theabsorbent article 10 can suitably include a rear waist elastic member52, a front waist elastic member 54, and leg elastic members, 56 and 58,as are known to those skilled in the art. The waist elastic members, 52and 54, can be attached to the backsheet 26 and/or the body facing liner28 along the opposite waist edges, 22 and 24, and can extend over partor all of the waist edges, 22 and 24. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3,the rear waist elastic member 52 is attached to the body facing liner 28and the containment flaps 44, 46 and the front waist elastic member 54is attached to the backsheet 26. The leg elastic members, 56 and 58, canbe attached to the backsheet 26 and/or the body facing liner 28 alongthe opposite longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, and positioned in thecrotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10.

Additional details regarding each of these elements of the absorbentarticle 10 described herein can be found below and with reference to theFIGS. 1 through 13.

Backsheet:

The backsheet 26 and/or portions thereof can be breathable and/or liquidimpermeable. The backsheet 26 and/or portions thereof can be elastic,stretchable, or non-stretchable. The backsheet 26 may be constructed ofa single layer, multiple layers, laminates, spunbond fabrics, films,meltblown fabrics, elastic netting, microporous webs, bonded-carded websor foams provided by elastomeric or polymeric materials. In anembodiment, for example, the backsheet 26 can be constructed of amicroporous polymeric film, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

In an embodiment, the backsheet 26 can be a single layer of a liquidimpermeable material. In an embodiment, the backsheet 26 can be suitablystretchable, and more suitably elastic, in at least the lateral orcircumferential direction 32 of the absorbent article 10. In anembodiment, the backsheet 26 can be stretchable, and more suitablyelastic, in both the lateral 32 and the longitudinal 30 directions. Inan embodiment, the backsheet 26 can be a multi-layered laminate in whichat least one of the layers is liquid impermeable. In an embodiment, thebacksheet 26 can be a two layer construction, including an outer layer60 material and an inner layer 62 material which can be bonded togethersuch as by a laminate adhesive. Suitable laminate adhesives can beapplied continuously or intermittently as beads, a spray, parallelswirls, or the like. Suitable adhesives can be obtained from BostikFindlay Adhesives, Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis., U.S.A. It is to beunderstood that the inner layer 62 can be bonded to the outer layer 60by other bonding methods, including, but not limited to, ultrasonicbonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds, or the like.

The outer layer 60 of the backsheet 26 can be any suitable material andmay be one that provides a generally cloth-like texture or appearance tothe wearer. An example of such material can be a 100% polypropylenebonded-carded web with a diamond bond pattern available from SandlerA.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. Anotherexample of material suitable for use as an outer layer 60 of a backsheet26 can be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene non-woven web. The outer layer60 may also be constructed of the same materials from which the bodyfacing liner 28 can be constructed as described herein.

The liquid impermeable inner layer 62 of the backsheet 26 (or the liquidimpermeable backsheet 26 where the backsheet 26 is of a single-layerconstruction) can be either vapor permeable (i.e., “breathable”) orvapor impermeable. The liquid impermeable inner layer 62 (or the liquidimpermeable backsheet 26 where the backsheet 26 is of a single-layerconstruction) may be manufactured from a thin plastic film, althoughother liquid impermeable materials may also be used. The liquidimpermeable inner layer 62 (or the liquid impermeable backsheet 26 wherethe backsheet 26 is of a single-layer construction) can inhibit liquidbody exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10 and wettingarticles, such as bed sheets and clothing, as well as the wearer andcaregiver. An example of a material for a liquid impermeable inner layer62 (or the liquid impermeable backsheet 26 where the backsheet 26 is ofa single-layer construction) can be a printed 19 gsm Berry PlasticsXP-8695H film or equivalent commercially available from Berry PlasticsCorporation, Evansville, Ind., U.S.A.

Where the backsheet 26 is of a single layer construction, it can beembossed and/or matte finished to provide a more cloth-like texture orappearance. The backsheet 26 can permit vapors to escape from theabsorbent article 10 while preventing liquids from passing through. Asuitable liquid impermeable, vapor permeable material can be composed ofa microporous polymer film or a non-woven material which has been coatedor otherwise treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability.

Absorbent Body:

The absorbent body 34 can be suitably constructed to be generallycompressible, conformable, pliable, non-irritating to the wearer's skinand capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. Theabsorbent body 34 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes andshapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, I-shape,hourglass shape, etc.) and from a wide variety of materials. The sizeand the absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 34 should be compatiblewith the size of the intended wearer and the liquid loading imparted bythe intended use of the absorbent article 10. Additionally, the size andthe absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 34 can be varied toaccommodate wearers ranging from infants to adults.

The absorbent body 34 may have a length ranging from about 150, 160,170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 225, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290,300, 310, 320, 330, 340, or 350 mm to about 355, 360, 380, 385, 390,395, 400, 410, 415, 420, 425, 440, 450, 460, 480, 500, 510, or 520 mm.The absorbent body 34 may have a crotch region 16 width ranging fromabout 30, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 mm to about 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100,105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 or 180 mm. The width ofthe absorbent body 34 located within the front waist region 12 and/orthe back waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10 may range fromabout 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105,110, 115, 120, 125 or 130 mm. As noted herein, the absorbent body 34 canhave a length and width that can be less than or equal to the length andwidth of the absorbent article 10.

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can be a diaper having thefollowing ranges of lengths and widths of an absorbent body 34 having anhourglass shape: the length of the absorbent body 34 may range fromabout 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 225, 240 or 250 mm to about 260,280, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 355, 360, 380, 385, or 390 mm; thewidth of the absorbent body 34 in the crotch region 16 may range fromabout 40, 50, 55, or 60 mm to about 65, 70, 75, or 80 mm; the width ofthe absorbent body 34 in the front waist region 12 and/or the back waistregion 14 may range from about 80, 85, 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105,or 110 mm.

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may be a training pant oryouth pant having the following ranges of lengths and widths of anabsorbent body 34 having an hourglass shape: the length of the absorbentbody 34 may range from about 400, 410, 420, 440 or 450 mm to about 460,480, 500, 510 or 520 mm; the width of the absorbent body 34 in thecrotch region 16 may range from about 50, 55, or 60 mm to about 65, 70,75, or 80 mm; the width of the absorbent body 34 in the front waistregion 12 and/or the back waist region 14 may range from about 80, 85,90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, or 130 mm.

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can be an adult incontinencegarment having the following ranges of lengths and widths of anabsorbent body 34 having a rectangular shape: the length of theabsorbent body 34 may range from about 400, 410 or 415 to about 425 or450 mm; the width of the absorbent body 34 in the crotch region 16 mayrange from about 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105, or 110 mm. It should benoted that the absorbent body 34 of an adult incontinence garment may ormay not extend into either or both the front waist region 12 or the backwaist region 14 of the absorbent article 10.

The absorbent body 34 can have two surfaces such as a wearer facingsurface 64 and a garment facing surface 66. Edges, such as longitudinalside edges, 36 and 38, and such as front and back end edges, 40 and 42,can connect the two surfaces, 64 and 66.

In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be composed of a webmaterial of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulpfibers), natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets,scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material,binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilicmaterials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as wellas combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can bea matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material.

In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be constructed of a singlelayer of materials, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two ormore layers of materials. In an embodiment in which the absorbent body34 has two layers, the absorbent body 34 can have a wearer facing layersuitably composed of hydrophilic fibers and a garment facing layersuitably composed at least in part of a high absorbency materialcommonly known as superabsorbent material. In such an embodiment, thewearer facing layer of the absorbent body 34 can be suitably composed ofcellulosic fluff, such as wood pulp fluff, and the garment facing layerof the absorbent body 34 can be suitably composed of superabsorbentmaterial, or a mixture of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material.As a result, the wearer facing layer can have a lower absorbent capacityper unit weight than the garment facing layer. The wearer facing layermay alternatively be composed of a mixture of hydrophilic fibers andsuperabsorbent material, as long as the concentration of superabsorbentmaterial present in the wearer facing layer is lower than theconcentration of superabsorbent material present in the garment facinglayer so that the wearer facing layer can have a lower absorbentcapacity per unit weight than the garment facing layer. It is alsocontemplated that, in an embodiment, the garment facing layer may becomposed solely of superabsorbent material without departing from thescope of this disclosure. It is also contemplated that, in anembodiment, each of the layers, the wearer facing and garment facinglayers, can have a superabsorbent material such that the absorbentcapacities of the two superabsorbent materials can be different and canprovide the absorbent body 34 with a lower absorbent capacity in thewearer facing layer than in the garment facing layer.

Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in theabsorbent body 34. Examples of suitable fibers include natural fibers,cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulosederivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of aninherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibersmade from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particularpolyester or polyamide fibers, or composed of nonwettable thermoplasticpolymers, such as polyolefin fibers which have been hydrophilized bysuitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, bytreatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with amaterial which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readilyremoved from the fiber, or by sheathing the nonwettable, hydrophobicfiber with a hydrophilic polymer during or after formation of the fiber.For example, one suitable type of fiber is a wood pulp that is ableached, highly absorbent sulfate wood pulp containing primarily softwood fibers. However, the wood pulp can be exchanged with other fibermaterials, such as synthetic, polymeric, or meltblown fibers or with acombination of meltblown and natural fibers. In an embodiment, thecellulosic fluff can include a blend of wood pulp fluff. An example ofwood pulp fluff can be “CoosAbsorb™ S Fluff Pulp” or equivalentavailable from Abitibi Bowater, Greenville, S.C., U.S.A., which is ableached, highly absorbent sulfate wood pulp containing primarilysouthern soft wood fibers.

The absorbent body 34 can be formed with a dry-forming technique, anair-forming technique, a wet-forming technique, a foam-formingtechnique, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. A coformnonwoven material may also be employed. Methods and apparatus forcarrying out such techniques are well known in the art.

Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural,synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silicagels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers. Cross-linkingmay be covalent, ionic, Van der Waals, or hydrogen bonding. Typically, asuperabsorbent material can be capable of absorbing at least about tentimes its weight in liquid. In an embodiment, the superabsorbentmaterial can absorb more than twenty-four times its weight in liquid.Examples of superabsorbent materials include polyacrylamides, polyvinylalcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers,hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymal methyl cellulose,polyvinylmorpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid,polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the like.Additional polymers suitable for superabsorbent material includehydrolyzed, acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch,polyacrylates and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers and mixturesthereof. The superabsorbent material may be in the form of discreteparticles. The discrete particles can be of any desired shape, forexample, spiral or semi-spiral, cubic, rod-like, polyhedral, etc. Shapeshaving a largest greatest dimension/smallest dimension ratio, such asneedles, flakes, and fibers are also contemplated for use herein.Conglomerates of particles of superabsorbent materials may also be usedin the absorbent body 34.

In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be free of superabsorbentmaterial. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can have at leastabout 15% by weight of a superabsorbent material. In an embodiment, theabsorbent body 34 can have at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 99 or 100% by weight of asuperabsorbent material. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 canhave less than about 100, 99, 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50,45, 40, 35, 30, 25, or 20% by weight of a superabsorbent material. In anembodiment, the absorbent body 34 can have from about 15, 20, 25, 30,35, 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60% to about 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 99 or100% by weight of a superabsorbent material. Examples of superabsorbentmaterial include, but are not limited to, FAVOR SXM-9300 or equivalentavailable from Evonik Industries, Greensboro, N.C., U.S.A. and HYSORB8760 or equivalent available from BASF Corporation, Charlotte, N.C.,U.S.A.

The absorbent body 34 can be superposed over the inner layer 62 of thebacksheet 26, extending laterally between the leg elastic members, 56,58, and can be bonded to the inner layer 62 of the backsheet 26, such asby being bonded thereto with adhesive. However, it is to be understoodthat the absorbent body 34 may be in contact with, and not bonded with,the backsheet 26 and remain within the scope of this disclosure. In anembodiment, the backsheet 26 can be composed of a single layer and theabsorbent body 34 can be in contact with the singer layer of thebacksheet 26. In an embodiment, a layer, such as but not limited to, afluid transfer layer 68, can be positioned between the absorbent body 40and the backsheet 26.

Fluid Transfer Layer:

In various embodiments an absorbent article 10 can be constructedwithout a fluid transfer layer 68. In various embodiments the absorbentarticle 10 can have a fluid transfer layer 68. In an embodiment, thefluid transfer layer 68 can be in contact with the absorbent body 34. Inan embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be bonded to theabsorbent body 34. Bonding of the fluid transfer layer 68 to theabsorbent body 34 can occur via any means known to one of ordinaryskill, such as, but not limited to, adhesives. In an embodiment, a fluidtransfer layer 68 can be positioned between the body facing liner 28 andthe absorbent body 34. In an embodiment, a fluid transfer layer 68 cancompletely encompass the absorbent body 34 and can be sealed to itself.In such an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 may be folded over onitself and then sealed using, for example, heat and/or pressure. In anembodiment a fluid transfer layer 68 may be composed of separate sheetsof material which can be utilized to partially or fully encompass theabsorbent body 34 and which can be sealed together using a sealing meanssuch as, but not limited to, an ultrasonic bonder or otherthermochemical bonding means or the use of an adhesive.

In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be in contact withand/or bonded with the wearer facing surface 64 of the absorbent body34. In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be in contact withand/or bonded with the wearer facing surface and at least one of theedges, 36, 38, 40, and/or 42, of the absorbent body 34. In anembodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be in contact with and/orbonded with the wearer facing surface 64, at least one of the edges, 36,38, 40, and/or 42, and the garment facing surface 66 of the absorbentbody 34. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be partially orcompletely encompassed by a fluid transfer layer 68.

The fluid transfer layer 68 can be pliable, less hydrophilic than theabsorbent body 34, and sufficiently porous to thereby permit liquid bodyexudates to penetrate through the fluid transfer layer 68 to reach theabsorbent body 34. In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 canhave sufficient structural integrity to withstand wetting thereof and ofthe absorbent body 34. In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 canbe constructed from a single layer of material or it may be a laminateconstructed from two or more layers of material.

In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can include, but is notlimited to, natural and synthetic fibers such as, but not limited to,polyester, polypropylene, acetate, nylon, polymeric materials,cellulosic materials such as wood pulp, cotton, rayon, viscose, LYOCELL®such as from Lenzing Company of Austria, or mixtures of these or othercellulosic fibers, and combinations thereof. Natural fibers can include,but are not limited to, wool, cotton, flax, hemp, and wood pulp. Woodpulps can include, but are not limited to, standard softwood fluffinggrade such as “CoosAbsorb™ S Fluff Pulp” or equivalent available fromAbitibi Bowater, Greenville, S.C., U.S.A., which is a bleached, highlyabsorbent sulfate wood pulp containing primarily southern soft woodfibers.

In various embodiments, the fluid transfer layer 68 can includecellulosic material. In various embodiments, the fluid transfer layer 68can be creped wadding or a high-strength tissue. In various embodiments,the fluid transfer layer 68 can include polymeric material. In anembodiment, a fluid transfer layer 68 can include a spunbond material.In an embodiment, a fluid transfer layer 68 can include a meltblownmaterial. In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be alaminate of a meltblown nonwoven material having fine fibers laminatedto at least one spunbond nonwoven material layer having coarse fibers.In such an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be aspunbond-meltblown (“SM”) material. In an embodiment, the fluid transferlayer 68 can be a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (“SMS”) material. Anon-limiting example of such a fluid transfer layer 68 can be a 10 gsmSMS material. In various embodiments, the fluid transfer layer 68 can becomposed of at least one material which has been hydraulically entangledinto a nonwoven substrate. In various embodiments, the fluid transferlayer 68 can be composed of at least two materials which have beenhydraulically entangled into a nonwoven substrate. In variousembodiments, the fluid transfer layer 68 can have at least threematerials which have been hydraulically entangled into a nonwovensubstrate. A non-limiting example of a fluid transfer layer 68 can be a33 gsm hydraulically entangled substrate. In such an example, the fluidtransfer layer 68 can be a 33 gsm hydraulically entangled substratecomposed of a 12 gsm spunbond material, a 10 gsm wood pulp materialhaving a length from about 0.6 cm to about 5.5 cm, and an 11 gsmpolyester staple fiber material. To manufacture the fluid transfer layer68 just described, the 12 gsm spunbond material can provide a base layerwhile the 10 gsm wood pulp material and the 11 gsm polyester staplefiber material can be homogeneously mixed together and deposited ontothe spunbond material and then hydraulically entangled with the spunbondmaterial.

In various embodiments, a wet strength agent can be included in thefluid transfer layer 68. A non-limiting example of a wet strength agentcan be Kymene 6500 (557LK) or equivalent available from Ashland Inc. ofAshland, Ky., U.S.A. In various embodiments, a surfactant can beincluded in the fluid transfer layer 68. In various embodiments, thefluid transfer layer 68 can be hydrophilic. In various embodiments, thefluid transfer layer 68 can be hydrophobic and can be treated in anymanner known in the art to be made hydrophilic.

In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 can be in contact withand/or bonded with an absorbent body 34 which is made at least partiallyof particulate material such as superabsorbent material. In anembodiment in which the fluid transfer layer 68 at least partially orcompletely encompasses the absorbent body 34, the fluid transfer layer68 should not unduly expand or stretch as this might cause theparticulate material to escape from the absorbent body 34. In anembodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68, while in a dry state, shouldhave respective extension values at peak load in the machine and crossdirections of 30 percent or less and 40 percent or less, respectively.

In an embodiment, the fluid transfer layer 68 may have a longitudinallength the same as, greater than, or less than the longitudinal lengthof the absorbent body 34. The fluid transfer layer 68 can have alongitudinal length ranging from about 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200,210, 220, 225, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330,340, or 350 mm to about 355, 360, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 410, 415,420, 425, 440, 450, 460, 480, 500, 510, or 520 mm.

Acquisition Layer:

In various embodiments the absorbent article 10 can have an acquisitionlayer 70. The acquisition layer 70 can help decelerate and diffusesurges or gushes of liquid body exudates penetrating the body facingliner 28. In an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can be positionedbetween the body facing liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 to take inand distribute body exudates for absorption by the absorbent body 34. Inan embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can be positioned between thebody facing liner 28 and a fluid transfer layer 68 if a fluid transferlayer 68 is present.

In an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can be in contact with and/orbonded with the body facing liner 28. In an embodiment in which theacquisition layer 70 is bonded with the body facing liner 28, bonding ofthe acquisition layer 70 to the body facing liner 28 can occur throughthe use of an adhesive and/or point fusion bonding, but is not limitedto such methods of bonding. The point fusion bonding can be selectedfrom, but is not limited to, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bonding,thermal bonding, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the pointfusion bonding can be provided in any pattern as deemed suitable.

The acquisition layer 70 may have any longitudinal length dimension asdeemed suitable. The acquisition layer 70 may have a longitudinal lengthfrom about 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 225,230, 240, or 250 mm to about 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 340,350, 360, 380, 400, 410, 415, 420, 425, 440, 450, 460, 480, 500, 510 or520 mm. In an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can have any lengthsuch that the acquisition layer 70 can be coterminous with the waistedges, 22 and 24, of the absorbent article 10.

In an embodiment, the longitudinal length of the acquisition layer 70can be the same as the longitudinal length of the absorbent body 34. Insuch an embodiment the midpoint of the longitudinal length of theacquisition layer 70 can substantially align with the midpoint of thelongitudinal length of the absorbent body 34.

In an embodiment, the longitudinal length of the acquisition layer 70can be shorter than the longitudinal length of the absorbent body 34. Insuch an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 may be positioned at anydesired location along the longitudinal length of the absorbent body 34.As an example of such an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 maycontain a target area where repeated liquid surges typically occur inthe absorbent article 10. The particular location of a target area canvary depending on the age and gender of the wearer of the absorbentarticle 10. For example, males tend to urinate further toward the frontwaist region 12 of the absorbent article 10 and the target area may bephased forward within the absorbent article 10. For example, the targetarea for a male wearer may be positioned about 2¾″ forward of thelongitudinal midpoint of the absorbent body 34 and may have a length ofabout ±3″ and a width of about ±2″. The female target area can belocated closer to the center of the crotch region 16 of the absorbentarticle 10. For example, the target area for a female wearer may bepositioned about 1″ forward of the longitudinal midpoint of theabsorbent body 34 and may have a length of about ±3″ and a width ofabout ±2″. As a result, the relative longitudinal placement of theacquisition layer 70 within the absorbent article 10 can be selected tobest correspond with the target area of either or both categories ofwearers.

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may contain a target areacentered within the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10 withthe premise that the absorbent article 10 would be worn by a femalewearer. The acquisition layer 70, therefore, may be positioned along thelongitudinal length of the absorbent article 10 such that theacquisition layer 70 can be substantially aligned with the target areaof the absorbent article 10 intended for a female wearer. Alternatively,the absorbent article 10 may contain a target area positioned betweenthe crotch region 16 and the front waist region 12 of the absorbentarticle 10 with the premise that the absorbent article 10 would be wornby a male wearer. The acquisition layer 70, therefore, may be positionedalong the longitudinal length of the absorbent article 10 such that theacquisition layer 70 can be substantially aligned with the target areaof the absorbent article 10 intended for a male wearer.

In an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can have a size dimensionthat is the same size dimension as the target area of the absorbentarticle 10 or a size dimension greater than the size dimension of thetarget area of the absorbent article 10. In an embodiment, theacquisition layer 70 can be in contact with and/or bonded with the bodyfacing liner 28 at least partially in the target area of the absorbentarticle 10.

In various embodiments, the acquisition layer 70 can have a longitudinallength shorter than, the same as, or longer than the longitudinal lengthof the absorbent body 34. In an embodiment in which the absorbentarticle 10 is a diaper, the acquisition layer 70 may have a longitudinallength from about 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, or 180 mm to about 200,210, 220, 225, 240, 260, 280, 300, 310 or 320 mm. In such an embodiment,the acquisition layer 70 may be shorter in longitudinal length than thelongitudinal length of the absorbent body 34 and may be phased from thefront end edge 40 of the absorbent body 34 a distance of from about 15,20, or 25 mm to about 30, 35 or 40 mm. In an embodiment in which theabsorbent article 10 may be a training pant or youth pant, theacquisition layer 70 may have a longitudinal length from about 120, 130,140, 150, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240 or 250 mm to about 260, 270, 280, 290,300, 340, 360, 400, 410, 420, 440, 450, 460, 480, 500, 510 or 520 mm. Insuch an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 may have a longitudinallength shorter than the longitudinal length of the absorbent body 34 andmay be phased a distance of from about 25, 30, 35 or 40 mm to about 45,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 or 85 mm from the front end edge 40 of theabsorbent body 34. In an embodiment in which the absorbent article 10 isan adult incontinence garment, the acquisition layer 70 may have alongitudinal length from about 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250 mm toabout 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 320, 340, 360, 380, 400, 410, 415, 425,or 450 mm. In such an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 may have alongitudinal length shorter than the longitudinal length of theabsorbent body 34 and the acquisition layer 70 may be phased a distanceof from about 20, 25, 30 or 35 mm to about 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or75 mm from the front end edge 40 of the absorbent body 34.

The acquisition layer 70 may have any width as desired. The acquisitionlayer 70 may have a width dimension from about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40,45, 50, 55, 60, or 70 mm to about 80, 90, 100, 110, 115, 120, 130, 140,150, 160, 170, or 180 mm. The width of the acquisition layer 70 may varydependent upon the size and shape of the absorbent article 10 withinwhich the acquisition layer 70 will be placed. The acquisition layer 70can have a width smaller than, the same as, or larger than the width ofthe absorbent body 34. Within the crotch region 16 of the absorbentarticle 10, the acquisition layer 70 can have a width smaller than, thesame as, or larger than the width of the absorbent body 34.

In an embodiment, the acquisition layer 70 can include natural fibers,synthetic fibers, superabsorbent material, woven material, nonwovenmaterial, wet-laid fibrous webs, a substantially unbounded airlaidfibrous web, an operatively bonded, stabilized-airlaid fibrous web, orthe like, as well as combinations thereof. In an embodiment, theacquisition layer 70 can be formed from a material that is substantiallyhydrophobic, such as a nonwoven web composed of polypropylene,polyethylene, polyester, and the like, and combinations thereof.

Body Facing Liner:

In various embodiments, the body facing liner 28 of the absorbentarticle 10 can overlay the absorbent body 34 and the backsheet 26 andcan isolate the wearer's skin from liquid waste retained by theabsorbent body 34. In various embodiments, a fluid transfer layer 68 canbe positioned between the body facing liner 28 and the absorbent body34. In various embodiments, an acquisition layer 70 can be positionedbetween the body facing liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 or a fluidtransfer layer 68, if present. In various embodiments, the body facingliner 28 can be bonded to the acquisition layer 70, or the fluidtransfer layer 68 if no acquisition layer 70 is present, via adhesiveand/or by a point fusion bonding. The point fusion bonding may beselected from ultrasonic, thermal, pressure bonding, and combinationsthereof.

In an embodiment, the body facing liner 28 can extend beyond theabsorbent body 34 and/or a fluid transfer layer 68, and/or anacquisition layer 70 to overlay a portion of the backsheet 26 and can bebonded thereto by any method deemed suitable, such as, for example, bybeing bonded thereto by adhesive, to substantially enclose the absorbentbody 34 between the backsheet 26 and the body facing liner 28. The bodyfacing liner 28 may be narrower than the backsheet 26, but it is to beunderstood that the body facing liner 28 and the backsheet 26 may be ofthe same dimensions. It is also contemplated that the body facing liner28 may not extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or may not be securedto the backsheet 26. It is further contemplated that the body facingliner 28 may be composed of more than one segment of material. The bodyfacing liner 28 can be suitably compliant, soft feeling, andnon-irritating to the wearer's skin and can be the same as or lesshydrophilic than the absorbent body 34 to permit body exudates toreadily penetrate through to the absorbent body 34 and provide arelatively dry surface to the wearer.

The body facing liner 28 can be manufactured from a wide selection ofmaterials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester orpolypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cottonfibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams,reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Examples ofsuitable materials include, but are not limited to, rayon, wood, cotton,polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bondablefibers, polyolefins, such as, but not limited to, copolymers ofpolypropylene and polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, andaliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs,net materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the body facingliner 28. The body facing liner 28 can include a woven fabric, anonwoven fabric, a polymer film, a film-fabric laminate or the like, aswell as combinations thereof. Examples of a nonwoven fabric can includespunbond fabric, meltblown fabric, coform fabric, carded web,bonded-carded web, bicomponent spunbond fabric, spunlace, or the like,as well as combinations thereof.

For example, the body facing liner 28 can be composed of a meltblown orspunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the body facing liner28 can be a bonded-carded web composed of natural and/or syntheticfibers. The body facing liner 28 can be composed of a substantiallyhydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can, optionally, betreated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desiredlevel of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be appliedby any conventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating orthe like. The surfactant can be applied to the entire body facing liner28 or it can be selectively applied to particular sections of the bodyfacing liner 28.

In an embodiment, a body facing liner 28 can be constructed of anon-woven bicomponent web. The non-woven bicomponent web can be aspunbonded bicomponent web, or a bonded-carded bicomponent web. Anexample of a bicomponent staple fiber includes apolyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber. In this particularbicomponent fiber, the polypropylene forms the core and the polyethyleneforms the sheath of the fiber. Fibers having other orientations, such asmulti-lobe, side-by-side, end-to-end may be used without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. In an embodiment, a body facing liner 28can be a spunbond substrate with a basis weight from about 10 or 12 toabout 15 or 20 gsm. In an embodiment, a body facing liner 28 can be a 12gsm spunbond-meltblown-spunbond substrate having 10% meltblown contentapplied between the two spunbond layers.

Although the backsheet 26 and body facing liner 28 can includeelastomeric materials, it is contemplated that the backsheet 26 and thebody facing liner 28 can be composed of materials which are generallynon-elastomeric. In an embodiment, the body facing liner 28 can bestretchable, and more suitably elastic. In an embodiment, the bodyfacing liner 28 can be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic inat least the lateral or circumferential direction of the absorbentarticle 10. In other aspects, the body facing liner 28 can bestretchable, and more suitably elastic, in both the lateral and thelongitudinal directions 32, 30, respectively.

Containment Flaps:

In an embodiment, containment flaps, 44, 46, can be secured to the bodyfacing liner 28 of the absorbent article 10 in a generally parallel,spaced relation with each other to provide a barrier against the flow ofbody exudates to the leg openings. In an embodiment, the containmentflaps, 44, 46, can extend longitudinally from the front waist region 12of the absorbent article 10, through the crotch region 16 to the backwaist region 14 of the absorbent article 10.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the containment flaps, 44, 46 can eachinclude a stem 72, 74, an inner flap projection 76, 78, and an outerflap projection 80, 82. Each containment flap 44, 46 can also include afoot portion 73, 75. As illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows an exploded,cross-sectional view of the absorbent article 10 when the absorbentarticle 10 is in a relaxed condition, the stem 72, 74 of eachcontainment flap 44, 46 can be bonded to the body facing liner 28 withadhesive 84, 86 that bonds the entire length of the containment flap 44,46 to the body facing liner 28. However, other bonding methods andapplications are contemplated for bonding each containment flap 44, 46to the body facing liner 28, including, but not limited to, pressurebonding and ultrasonic bonding. Additionally, each containment flap 44,46 can be bonded to other components of the absorbent article 10 otherthan the body facing liner 28, including, but not limited to, the backsheet 26.

The stem 72, 74 of each containment flap 44, 46 is configured to extendaway from the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 and thebacksheet 26 when the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition andfitted on the wearer, especially in the crotch region 16, as will beexplained further below. As such, the stem 72, 74 provides lateralcontainment of body exudates. Although the stem 72, 74 of eachcontainment flap 44, 46 is depicted as extending substantiallyperpendicularly away from the body facing surface 27 of the body facingliner 28, the stem 72, 74 can extend away from the body facing surface27 at different angles and still be within the scope of this disclosure.The stems 72, 74 of the containment flaps 44, 46 can be positionedlaterally inward from the longitudinal side edges 18, 20, respectively.The transition between the stem 72, 74 and the foot portion 73, 75 ofeach containment flap 44, 46, respectively, can be defined by the pointof bonding of the stem 72, 74 to a component of the absorbent articlethat allows the stem 72, 74 to extend away from that attached componentof the absorbent article 10. For example, in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 4, the adhesive 84, 86 that bonds the containment flap 44, 46 tothe body facing liner 28 can define the transition between stem 72, 74and the foot portion 73, 75 of each containment flap 44, 46. When theabsorbent article 10 is in the relaxed condition, the stem 72, 74extends from such point of bonding away from the body facing surface 27of the body facing liner 28 to the intersection with inner flapprojection 76, 78 and the outer flap projection 80, 82. In oneembodiment, the stem 72, 74 can be about 5 mm to about 50 mm in heightas measured in the crotch region 16 in a cross-sectional configurationwhen the absorbent article 10 is in the relaxed condition, preferablybetween about 10 mm and about 40 mm in height, and more preferably about25 mm in height.

The foot portion 73, 75 of each containment flap 44, 46 can extend tothe longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, however,the foot portion 73, 75 need not extend to the longitudinal side edges18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, as depicted in FIG. 2. In anembodiment where the foot portion 73, 75 does extend to the longitudinalside edges 18, 20, the foot portion 73, 75 can be bonded at more thanone point to the body-facing liner 28 or the backsheet 26. For example,adhesive could be used to bond the foot portion 73, 75 to the bodyfacing liner 28 or the backsheet 26 near the stem 72, 74 and furtheradhesive could be used to bond the foot portion 73, 75 to the bodyfacing liner 28 or the backsheet 26 near the longitudinal side edges 18,20. Alternatively, the entire foot portion 73, 75 could be bonded to thebody facing liner 28 and/or the backsheet 26. Additionally, in anembodiment where the foot portion 73, 75 extends to the longitudinalside edges 18, 20, a portion of the foot portion 73, 75 can be cut-outas part of forming the leg-cutout of the absorbent article 10. Thus, thelength of the foot portion 73, 75 can vary between differentembodiments. In an embodiment where the foot portion 73, 75 does notextend to the longitudinal side edges 18, 20, the foot portion 73, 75can be about 2 mm to about 20 mm in length as measured in the lateraldirection 32 in the crotch region 16, more preferably about 5 mm toabout 15 mm in length.

The inner flap projection 76, 78 of each containment flap 44, 46 extendslaterally from the stem 72, 74 towards the longitudinal axis 29 of theabsorbent article 10 when the absorbent article 10 is in a relaxedcondition, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The outer flap projection 80, 82 ofeach containment flap 44, 46 extends laterally from the stem 72, 74 awayfrom the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10 when theabsorbent article 10 is in a relaxed condition, as illustrated in FIG.4. For purposes herein, the inner flap projections 76, 78 can bedistinguished from the outer flap projections 80, 82 of each containmentflap 44, 46 at the junction of the inner flap projection 76 and theouter flap projection 80 at the stem 72 and the junction of the innerflap projection 78 and the outer flap projection 82 at the stem 74.Adhesive 88 can be used to bond the stem 72 to the inner flap projection76 and the outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap 44 andadhesive 90 can be used to bond the stem 74 to the inner flap projection78 and the outer flap projection 82 of the containment flap 46. Ofcourse, the inner flap projections, 76, 78 and the outer flapprojections 80, 82 can be bonded to the stems 72, 74, respectively, byother bonding methods known in the art, including, but not limited to,pressure bonding and ultrasonic bonding. The inner flap projections 76,78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 can be of equal or differentlengths than one another. The length of the inner flap projection 76 andthe outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap 44 as measured inthe lateral direction 32 can be about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferablyabout 10 mm to about 40 mm, and more preferably about 20 mm to about 30mm. Similarly, the length of the inner flap projection 78 and the outerflap projection 82 of the containment flap 46 as measured in the lateraldirection 32 can be about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 10 mm toabout 40 mm, and more preferably about 20 mm to about 30 mm.

At least a portion of the inner flap projection 76, 78 and the outerflap projection 80, 82 of each containment flap 44, 46 can beelasticized. The inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flapprojections 80, 82 can be elasticized in various ways. For example, inthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, each containment flap 44, 46 includesan elastic member 48, 50. The elastic member 48, 50 can be anyelastomeric material capable of being elongated at least about 50percent, desirably about 350 percent, and capable of recovering towithin at least about 250 percent, and desirably about 150 percent ofits original length after being elongated about 300 percent. The elasticmember 48, 50 could be a spandex elastomeric strand(s) such as, forexample, a LYCRA thread commercially available from E. I. DuPont deNemours and Co. Alternatively, the elastic member 48, 50 can be composedof a thermoplastic elastomer or a natural or a synthetic rubbercommercially available from J.P.S. Elastomerics Corp. Alternatively, theelastic member 48, 50 can also be composed of a heat activated elasticmaterial such as PEBAX, commercially available from Atochem, Inc., whichcan be activated with heat treatment after the elastic member 48, 50 issecured to the containment flap 44, 46. As will be discussed furtherbelow, the elastic member 48, 50 can be attached to the containment flap44, 46 by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as thermalbonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding or the like.

In the embodiments depicted herein, each containment flap 44, 46includes an elastic member 48, 50. The elastic member 48 in thecontainment flap 44 can be a series of five elastic strands 48 a, 48 b,48 c, 48 d, 48 e and the elastic member 50 in the containment flap 46can be a series of five elastic strands 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 e, asdepicted in FIGS. 2-6. The inner flap projection 76 of the containmentflap 44 includes elastic strands 48 d and 48 e and the inner flapprojection 78 of the containment flap 46 includes elastic strands 50 dand 50 e. The outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap 44includes elastic strands 48 a and 48 b. The outer flap projection 82 ofthe containment flap 46 includes elastic strands 50 a and 50 b. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the elastic strand 48 c and theelastic strand 50 c of elastic members 48, 50, respectively, isgenerally positioned above the stem 72, 74, and thus, at the junctionbetween the inner flap projection 76 and outer flap projection 80 of thecontainment flap 44 and at the junction between the inner flapprojection 78 and the outer flap projection 82. As such, the elasticstrand 48 c can be considered to be partially within both the inner flapprojection 76 and the outer flap projection 80 of containment flap 44and the elastic strand 50 c can be considered to be partially withinboth the inner flap projection 78 and the outer flap projection 82 ofcontainment flap 46.

Of course, modifications to the way in which the inner flap projections76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 can be elasticized can bemade by one of ordinary skill in the art and are within the scope ofthis disclosure. For example, it is contemplated that the elastic member48 of the first containment flap 44 and/or the elastic member 50 of thesecond containment flap 46 could include fewer than five elastic strandsor more than five elastic strands. Alternatively and/or additionally,the inner flap projections 76, 78 could include other types of elasticmaterials, such as elastic ribbons. Alternatively and/or additionally,the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82can be elasticized by being composed of a material exhibitingsubstantially elastic properties.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional exploded view of a front waistregion 12 of the absorbent article 10 is shown. The inner flapprojections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46 can each be secured in at least a portion ofthe front waist region 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, theinner flap projection 76 of the containment flap 44 can be secured bybeing bonded to the body facing liner 28 with adhesive 92. The outerflap projection 80 of the containment flap 44 can be secured by beingbonded to the stem 72 with adhesive 94. Similarly, the inner flapprojection 78 of the containment flap 46 can be secured by being bondedto the body facing liner 28 with adhesive 96 and the outer flapprojection 82 of the containment flap 46 can be secured by being bondedto the stem 74 with adhesive 98.

By securing the inner flap projections 76, 78 of the containment flaps44, 46 in the front waist region 12, the tendency is reduced for theinner flap projections 76, 78 to curl back towards the stem 72, 74 dueto the tension in the elastic members 48, 50 when the absorbent article10 is in a stretched condition, such as when the absorbent article 10 isbeing applied to and/or worn by the wearer. Similarly, by securing theouter flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46 in thefront waist region 12, the tendency is reduced for the outer flapprojections 80, 82 to curl towards the longitudinal axis 29 and towardsthe stem 72, 74 due to the elastic members 48, 50 when the absorbentarticle 10 is in a stretched condition. This can help to maintain theupper surfaces 104, 110 of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theupper surfaces 106, 112 of the outer flap projections 80, 82 remainlevel which can provide increased contact area of the upper surfaces104, 106 of the containment flap 44 and the upper surfaces 110, 112 ofthe containment flap 46 with the wearer's skin. This securing can alsohelp prevent the inner flap projection 76 and the outer flap projection80 of the containment flap 44 and the inner flap projection 78 and theouter flap projection 82 of the containment flap 44 from folding over onone another as the absorbent article 10 is stretched and applied to thewearer. As a result, the containment flaps 44, 46 can provide morecontact with the wearer's skin to provide improved gasketing benefits ofbody exudates and less irritation on the wearer's skin by increasing thearea of contact between the containment flaps 44, 46 and the wearer'sskin as compared to certain containment flaps of the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional exploded view of a rear waistregion of the absorbent article is shown. Similar to the discussionabove related to FIG. 5 and the front waist region, the inner flapprojections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46 can also each be secured in at least a portionof the rear waist region 14. The inner flap projection 76 of thecontainment flap 44 can be secured by being bonded to the body facingliner 28 with adhesive 93. The outer flap projection 80 of thecontainment flap 44 can be secured by being bonded to the stem 72 withadhesive 95. Similarly, the inner flap projection 78 of the containmentflap 46 can be secured by being bonded to the body facing liner 28 withadhesive 97 and the outer flap projection 82 of the containment flap 46can be secured by being bonded to the stem 74 with adhesive 99.

The rear waist elastic member 52 can provide an additional oralternative means for securing the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theouter flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46 in therear waist region 12 for reducing the outer flap projections 80, 82 fromcurling towards the longitudinal axis 29 in the crotch region 16 and forreducing the inner flap projections 76, 78 from curling away from thelongitudinal axis 29 in the crotch region 16. The rear waist elasticmember 52 has a body facing surface 51 and a garment facing surface 53.The overlap of the garment facing surface 53 of the rear waist elasticmember 52 with the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flapprojections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46 can secure the innerflap projections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 in therear waist region 12. Additionally, adhesive 102 applied to the garmentfacing surface 53 of the rear waist elastic member 52 can further securethe inner flap projection 76 and the outer flap projection 80 of thecontainment flap 44 by bonding to an upper surface 104 of the inner flapprojection 76 and an upper surface 106 of the outer flap projection 80.Similarly, adhesive 108 applied to the garment facing surface 53 of therear waist elastic member 52 can further secure the inner flapprojection 78 and the outer flap projection 82 of the containment flap46 by bonding to an upper surface 110 of the inner flap projection 78and an upper surface 112 of the outer flap projection 82.

As noted above with respect to the front waist region 12, securing theinner flap projections 76, 78 of the containment flaps 44, 46 in therear waist region 14 reduces the tendency for the inner flap projections76, 78 to curl back towards the stem 72, 74 and away from thelongitudinal axis 29 due to tension in the elastic members 48, 50 whenthe absorbent article 10 is in a stretched condition, such as when theabsorbent article 10 is being applied to and/or worn by the wearer.Similarly, securing the outer flap projections 80, 82 of the containmentflaps 44, 46 in the front waist region 12 reduces the tendency for theouter flap projections 80, 82 to curl towards the longitudinal axis 29and towards the stem 72, 74 due to the elastic members 48, 50 when theabsorbent article 10 is in a stretched condition. This can help levelthe upper surfaces 104, 110 of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theupper surfaces 106, 112 of the outer flap projections 80, 82 andincrease the area of contact of the containment flaps 44, 46 against thewearer's skin. This securing can also help prevent the inner flapprojection 76 and the outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap44 and the inner flap projection 78 and the outer flap projection 82 ofthe containment flap 44 from folding over on one another as theabsorbent article 10 is stretched and applied to the wearer. As aresult, the containment flaps 44, 46 can provide more contact with thewearer's skin to provide improved gasketing benefits of body exudatesand less irritation on the wearer's skin by increasing the area ofcontact between the containment flaps 44, 46 and the wearer's skin ascompared to certain containment flaps of the prior art.

It is also contemplated that the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theouter flap projections 80, 82 can be secured in the front waist region12 and the rear waist region 14 with different bonding methods anddifferent bonding orientations and still be within the scope of thisdisclosure. For example, the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outerflap projections 80, 82 can be secured in the front waist region 12and/or the rear waist region 14 by pressure bonding or ultrasonicbonding the outer flap projections 80, 82 to the stem 72, 74 and theinner flap projections 76, 78 to the body facing liner 28. Additionally,depending on the orientation of the containment flaps 44, 46, the innercontainment flaps 76, 78 could be bonded to the stem 72, 74,respectively, in the front waist region 12 and/or the rear waist region14 and the outer containment flaps 80, 82 could each be bonded to thebody facing liner 28 in the front waist region 12 and/or the rear waistregion 14.

During manufacture of the containment flaps 44, 46, at least a portionof the elastic members 48, 50 can be bonded to the containment flaps 44,46 while the elastic members 48, 40 are elongated. The percentelongation of the elastic members 48, 50 can be, for example, about 110%to about 350%. In one embodiment, the elastic members 48, 50 can becoated with adhesive while elongated for a specified length prior toattaching to the elastic members 48, 50 to the containment flaps 44, 46.In a stretched condition, the length of the elastic members 48, 50 whichhave adhesive coupled thereto can provide an active flap elastic region114 in the containment flap 44 and an active flap elastic region 116 inthe containment flap 46, as best shown in FIG. 2, which will gather uponrelaxation of the absorbent article 10, as discussed below. The activeflap elastic region 114 of containment flap 44 can include a front end118 and a rear end 120. The front end 118 and the rear end 120 of theactive flap elastic region 114 can be inside of the front waist edge 22and the rear waist edge 24, respectively, to provide an active flapelastic region 114 that is shorter than a length of the absorbentarticle 10, as depicted in FIG. 2. The active flap elastic region 116 ofcontainment flap 46 can include a front end 122 and a rear end 124. Thefront end 122 and the rear end 124 of the active flap elastic region 116can be inside of the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24,respectively, to provide an active flap elastic region 116 that isshorter than a length of the absorbent article 10, as depicted in FIG.2. In this exemplary method of bonding the elastic members 48, 50 to thecontainment flaps 44, 46, the portion of the elastic members 44, 46 notcoated with adhesive, specifically in the front end region 12 and rearend region 14 of the absorbent article 10, will retract after theelastic members 48, 50 and the absorbent article 10 are cut inmanufacturing to form an individual absorbent article 10. The relaxingof the elastic members 48, 50 in the active flap elastic region 114, 116when the absorbent article 10 is in a relaxed condition can cause eachcontainment flap 44, 46 to gather and cause the stem 72, 74 of eachcontainment flap 44, 46 to extend away from the body facing liner 28 andbacksheet 26 in the crotch region 16, as depicted in FIG. 4.

The elastic members 48, 50 can be bonded to the containment flaps 44, 46in various other ways as known by those of skill in the art to providean active flap elastic region 114, 116, which is within the scope ofthis disclosure. Additionally, the active flap elastic regions 114, 116can be shorter than depicted in FIG. 2 or can be longer than depicted inFIG. 2, including extending to the front waist edge 22 and the rearwaist edge 24, and still be within the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the adhesives 92, 96 that are used to bond the innerflap projections 76, 78 to the body facing liner 28 in the front waistregion 12, respectively, and the adhesives 93, 97 that are used to bondthe inner flap projections 76, 78 to the body facing liner 28 in therear waist region 14, respectively. Additionally, FIG. 2 illustrates theadhesives 94, 98 that are used to bond the outer flap projections 80, 82to the stem 72, 74 in the front waist region 12, respectively, and theadhesives 95, 99 that are used to bond the outer flap projections 80, 82to the stem 72, 74 in the rear waist region 14, respectively. Therepresentation of adhesives 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 with dashed linesin FIG. 2 is meant to portray these adhesives are hidden in the top viewdepicted in FIG. 2 and is not meant to limit these adhesives to beingapplied only intermittently where they are currently illustrated in thefront waist region 12 and the rear waist region 14, although such anintermittent application is contemplated and within the scope of thisdisclosure. Furthermore, the dashed line representation for theadhesives 84, 86 that bond the stems 72, 74 to the body facing liner 28,respectively, is also meant to portray that these adhesives are hiddenin the top view depicted in FIG. 2, and are not meant to limit theseadhesives to being applied intermittently along the length of theabsorbent article 10, although such an intermittent application iscontemplated and within the scope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portion of the inner flap projections 76, 78that are bonded to the body facing liner 28 in the front waist region 12can be equal to the portion of the outer flap projections 80, 82 thatare bonded to the stem 72, 74 in the front waist region 12.Additionally, the portion of the inner flap projections 76, 78 that arebonded to the body facing liner 28 in the rear waist region 14 can beequal to the portion of the outer flap projections 80, 82 that arebonded to the stem 72, 74 in the rear waist region 14. Furthermore, inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the portion of the inner flapprojection 76 and the portion of the outer flap projection 80 of thecontainment flap 44 that are bonded to the body facing liner 28 and thestem 72, respectively, in the front waist region 12 can extend fromsubstantially the front waist edge 22 to substantially the front end 116of the active flap elastic region 114. Additionally, the portion of theinner flap projection 78 and the portion of the outer flap projection 82of the containment flap 46 that are bonded to the body facing liner 28and the stem 74, respectively, in the front waist region 12 can extendfrom substantially the front waist edge 22 to the front end 122 of theactive flap elastic region 116. By providing adhesives 92, 94 on thecontainment flap 44 and adhesives 96, 98 on the containment flap 46 inthe front waist region 12 to the front end 116 of the active flapelastic region 114 assists in reducing the tendency of and/or the amountthat the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections80, 82 may curl towards the stems 72, 74 when the absorbent article 10is in a stretched condition, as noted above. Of course, otherconfigurations of bonding the outer flap projections 80, 82 and/or theinner flap projections 76, 78 of the containment flaps 44, 46 in thefront waist region 12 and/or the rear waist region 14 are within thescope of this disclosure.

The containment flaps, 44 and 46, can be constructed of a fibrousmaterial which can be similar to the material forming the body facingliner 28, including, but not limited to a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond(“SMS”) material. As discussed above, suitable elastic materials for theflap elastic members, 48 and 50, can include, but are not limited to,spandex elastomeric strands, sheets, strands, or ribbons of natural orsynthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomeric materials, or heat activatedelastomeric materials.

With reference to FIGS. 7-15, an exemplary method 210 for forming acontainment system for an absorbent article 10 including containmentflaps 44, 46, as discussed above and as shown in FIGS. 2-6, will now bediscussed. FIG. 7 provides a process diagram outlining exemplary steps214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, and 234 that can bepart of method 210. While the steps of the method 210 will be discussedin the order of one exemplary embodiment, it is intended that the anysteps of the method 210 not be limited to such order, or even required,unless explicitly specified herein.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the method 210 can include providing asubstrate 236 in step 214 from a source 237. The source 237 of thesubstrate 236 can be from a roll of material, as is known by one ofordinary skill in the art. The substrate 236 can include a first surface238 and a second surface 240, with the first surface 238 being oppositeof the second surface 240. The substrate 236 can also include a firsthalf 242 and a second half 244 that are joined to one another, butdivided by a centerline 246. The first half 242 can be on a first side248 of the centerline 246 and the second half 244 can be on a secondside 250 of the centerline 246. For purposes herein, the first half 242of the substrate 236 can be considered a first substrate and the secondhalf 244 of the substrate 236 can be considered a second substratedespite the first half 242 and the second half 244 being shown as beingjoined to one another in FIG. 8 in step 214. Alternatively, the firsthalf 242 and the second half 244 can be provided as two substratesphysically separate from one another at centerline 246 in step 214.Thus, for purposes of discussion herein, references to the first half242 of the substrate 236 and to the second half 244 of the substrate 236could be considered references to a first substrate and a secondsubstrate.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, elastic members 48, 50 from a source ofelastics 251 can be applied to the first surface 238 of the substrate236 in step 216. The elastic member 48 can be applied and attached tothe second half 244 of the substrate 236 and the elastic member 50 canbe applied and attached to the first half 242 of the substrate 236. Theelastic members 48, 50, as discussed above, can be a singular member ormultiple members. In one embodiment, the elastic member 48 can includefive individual elastic strands 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48 d, 48 e and theelastic member 50 can include five individual elastic strands 50 a, 50b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 e. The individual elastic strands 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48d, 48 e of elastic member 48 can be aligned substantially parallel toone another. The elastic strands 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48 d, 48 e can bespaced about 5 mm from one another in the lateral direction 32.Similarly, the individual elastic strands 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 ecan be aligned substantially parallel to one another. The elasticstrands 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 e can be spaced about 5 mm from oneanother in the lateral direction 32. As previously discussed, aspecified length of the elastic members 48, 50 can be coated withadhesive prior to their application to the substrate 236 and the elasticmembers 48, 50 can also be tensioned during their application to thesubstrate 236, as previously noted above. The length of the adhesivethat is coated on the elastic members 48, 50 can define the active flapelastic regions 114, 116 on the containment flaps 44, 46, as discussedabove.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 9, and 10, the method 210 can include afurther step 218. In step 218, a first portion 252 of the first half 242of the substrate 236 can be folded over the elastic member 50 at foldline 256 by a folding apparatus 257 towards the centerline 246 andtowards the proximal end 243 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236.Similarly, a first portion 254 of the second half 244 of the substrate236 can be folded over the elastic member 48 at fold line 258 by thefolding apparatus 257 towards the centerline 246 and towards theproximal end 245 of the second half 244 of the substrate 236. Thefolding apparatus 257 can be equipment known to one of ordinary skill inthe art, such as a folding board. The adhesive coating on the elasticmembers 50, 48 can bond the first portions 252, 254 to the elasticmembers 50, 48, respectively, with the elastic members 48 and 50 beingin tension, as discussed above. As an alternative to applying adhesivedirectly to the elastic members 50, 48, adhesive could be applied to thefirst portions 252, 254 of the substrate 236 to bond the first portions252, 254 to the elastic members 50, 48, respectively, as the firstportions 252, 254 are folded on to the elastic members 50, 48,respectively. Additionally and/or alternatively, the first portions 252,254 can be bonded to the first half 242 and the second half 244 of thesubstrate 236, respectively, by other bonding methods after beingfolded, including, but not limited to, pressure bonding and ultrasonicbonding.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, the method 210 can also include step 220.Adhesive 260 can be applied to the first half 242 of the substrate 236in a position to engage the first portion 252 of the first half 242 ofthe substrate 236. Adhesive 262 can be applied to the second half 244 ofthe substrate 236 in a position to engage the first portion 254 of thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236. Adhesives 260, 262 can be appliedby an adhesive applicator 261 as is known by one of ordinary skill inthe art. As non-limiting examples, the adhesives 260, 262 can be appliedwith an adhesive head extruding a slot coat or by a spray nozzleproviding a spray. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the adhesive 260 can beapplied to first surface 238 on the first half 242 of the substrate 236not directly on the first portion 252 of the first half 242, but in aposition to engage the first portion 252 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236 in a further folding step 224, which will be discussedbelow. Similarly, the adhesive 262 can be applied to the first surface238 on the second half 244 of the substrate 236 not directly on thefirst portion 254 of the second half 244, but in a position to engagethe first portion 254 of the second half 244 of the substrate in afurther folding step 224. Alternatively, the adhesives 260, 262 could beapplied directly to the first portions 252, 254, respectively, on thesecond surface 240 of the substrate 236. Step 220 can be performed afterstep 218, or after step 216 and prior to step 218, or prior to step 216and step 218.

Step 222 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11 can include applying anintermittent adhesive 264 to the first half 242 of the substrate 236 ina position to engage the first portion 252 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236 near the fold line 256. Furthermore, step 222 can includeapplying an intermittent adhesive 266 to the second half 244 of thesubstrate 236 in a position to engage the first portion 254 of thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236 near the fold line 258. Theintermittent adhesives 264, 266 can be applied by the adhesiveapplicator 261 at the same time as adhesives 260, 262 are being appliedto the substrate 236 in step 220, however, the method 210 is not limitedto such a configuration. Step 222 could be performed prior to step 220,after step 218 and prior to step 220, after step 216 and prior to step218, or prior to steps, 216, 218, and 220. As illustrated in FIG. 11,the intermittent adhesive 264 can be applied to the first surface 238 onthe first half 242 of the substrate 236 and closer to the centerline 246than the adhesive 260. Intermittent adhesive 266 can be applied to thefirst surface 238 on the second half 244 of the substrate and closer tothe centerline 246 than the adhesive 262. However, the intermittentadhesives 264, 266 could alternatively be applied directly to the firstportions 252, 254, respectively, on the second surface 240 of thesubstrate 236 near the fold lines 256, 258, respectively.

Now referring to FIGS. 7, 11, and 12, the method 210 can further includea step 224. Step 224 can include folding a second portion 268 of thefirst half 242 of the substrate 236 at fold line 270 towards thecenterline 246 and the proximal end 243 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236 onto a third portion 272 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236. Folding the second portion 268 of the first half 242 ofthe substrate 236 can be completed with a folding apparatus 269, suchas, but not limited to, a folding board. The second portion 268 can befolded such that the first portion 252 is bonded to the third portion272 at the adhesive 260 in substantially the middle 274 of the firstportion 252. By doing so, the first portion 252 and the second portion268 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236 can form the inner flapprojection 78 and the outer flap projection 82 for the containment flap46 to be of approximately equal length, as discussed above, shown inFIG. 4, and as will be discussed in further detail below. In folding thesecond portion 268 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236 onto thethird portion 272 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236, the firstportion 252 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236 can be secured tothe third portion 272 with intermittent adhesive 264. Thus, the part ofthe first portion 252 that will form a part of the outer flap projection82 can be secured to the third portion 272 with intermittent adhesive264. The intermittent adhesive 264 can be registered and the first half242 of the substrate 236 can be attached to the absorbent article 10 (aswill be described below) such that the intermittent adhesive 264 is onlypresent in a portion of the front waist region 12 and/or a portion ofthe rear waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10, but not in thecrotch region 16, just as adhesives 98, 99 are shown as securing theouter flap projection 82 in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. Alternatively and/oradditionally to the use of adhesive 260 and intermittent adhesive 264,the first portion 252 can be secured to the third portion 272 via otherbonding methods, including, but not limited to, pressure bonding orultrasonic bonding the first portion 252 to the third portion 272.

Likewise, step 224 can include folding a second portion 276 of thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236 at fold line 278 towards thecenterline 246 and the proximal end 245 of the second half 244 of thesubstrate 236 onto a third portion 280 of the second half 244 of thesubstrate 236. Folding the second portion 276 of the second half 244 ofthe substrate 236 can be accomplished with the folding apparatus 269.The second portion 276 can be folded such that the first portion 254 isbonded to the third portion 280 at the adhesive 262 in substantially themiddle 282 of the first portion 254. In this manner, the first portion254 and the second portion 276 of the second half 244 of the substrate236 can form the inner flap projection 76 and the outer flap projection80 of the containment flap 44 to be of approximately equal length, asdiscussed above, shown in FIG. 4, and as will be discussed in furtherdetail below. In folding the second portion 276 of the second half 244of the substrate 236 onto the third portion 280 of the second half 244of the substrate 236, the first portion 254 of the second half 244 ofthe substrate can be bonded to the third portion 280 with intermittentadhesive 266. As a result, the first portion 254 can be secured to thethird portion 280 with intermittent adhesive 266. Thus, the part of thefirst portion 254 that will form a part of the outer flap projection 80can be secured to the third portion 280 with intermittent adhesive 266.The intermittent adhesive 266 can be registered and the second half 244of the substrate 236 can be attached to the absorbent article 10 (aswill be described below) such that the intermittent adhesive 266 is onlypresent in a portion of the front waist region 12 and/or a portion ofrear waist region 14 of the absorbent article, but not in the crotchregion 16, just as adhesives 94, 95 are shown as securing the outer flapprojection 80 in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. Alternatively and/or additionally tothe use of adhesive 262 and intermittent adhesive 266, the first portion254 can be secured to the third portion 280 via other bonding methods,including, but not limited to, pressure bonding or ultrasonic bondingthe first portion 254 to the third portion 280.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 13, step 226 of the method 210 can includeslitting the substrate 236 at the centerline 246 to separate the firsthalf 242 of the substrate 236 from the second half 244 of the substrate236. A slitting apparatus 284 can slit the substrate 236, the slittingapparatus 284 being any of a variety of equipment that is capable ofcutting a web of material into two webs, as is known by one of ordinaryskill in the art. For example, the slitting apparatus can include ablade 285 as illustrated in FIG. 13. As previously noted, step 236 canbe completed prior to step 214 if the substrate 236 is provided as afirst half 242 and a second half 244 that are already separated from oneanother to form a first substrate and a second substrate. Alternatively,slitting the substrate 236 could be performed in various stages of themethod 210 described herein for example, after step 214 and prior tostep 216, after step 216 and prior to step 218, after step 218 and priorto step 220, after step 220 and prior to step 222, or after step 222 andprior to step 224.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 14, step 228 includes moving the first half 242of the substrate 236 from the first side 248 of the centerline 246 tothe second side 250 of the centerline 246 and moving the second half 244of the substrate 236 from the second side 250 of the centerline 246 tothe first side 248 of the centerline 246. Reversing the orientation ofthe first half 242 of the substrate 236 and the second half 244 of thesubstrate 236 with respect to the centerline 246 can be accomplishedwith a web handling apparatus 286 as known by one of ordinary skill inthe art. For example, the web handling apparatus 286 could be, but isnot limited to, the location and angle of rollers that guide the firsthalf 242 and the second half 244 of the substrate 236. Step 228 canalternatively be performed in the method 210 at any point after thefirst half 242 is separated from the second half 244 of the substrate236, such as in step 226.

FIGS. 7 and 15 illustrate step 230 of method 210. Step 230 can includeapplying adhesive 288 to the second surface 240 of the second half 244of the substrate 236, in particular, in the third portion 280 of thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236. Step 230 can also include applyingadhesive 290 to the second surface 240 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236, in the third portion 272 of the first half 242 of thesubstrate 236. The adhesives 288 and 290 can be applied by an adhesiveapplicator 291, which can be similar to the adhesive applicator 261discussed above. The portion of the first half 242 of the substrate 236extending between the adhesive 260 (applied in step 220) and theadhesive 290 (applied in step 230) can form the stem 74 of thecontainment flap 46. Additionally, the portion of the second half 244 ofthe substrate 236 extending between the adhesive 262 (applied in step220) and the adhesive 288 (applied in step 230) can form the stem 72 ofthe containment flap 44.

Step 232 can include applying an intermittent adhesive 292 to the secondsurface 240 of the second half 244 of the substrate 236. Step 232 canalso include applying intermittent adhesive 294 to the second surface240 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236. The intermittentadhesives 292, 294 can be applied by the adhesive applicator 291 or by adifferent adhesive applicator (not shown). The intermittent adhesives292, 294 can be applied to the second surface 240 of the first half 242and the second half 244 of the substrate 236 at the same time theadhesives 288, 290 are applied, however, the method 210 is not limitedto such a configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the intermittentadhesive 292 can be applied to the second surface 240 of the second half244 of the substrate 236 closer to the centerline 246 than the adhesive288. Similarly, the intermittent adhesive 294 can be applied to thesecond surface 240 of the first half 242 of the substrate 236 closer tothe centerline 246 than the adhesive 290. The intermittent adhesives 292and 294 can be registered such that when the first half 242 and thesecond half 244 of the substrate is bonded to the absorbent article 10(as will be discussed below), the intermittent adhesives 292, 294 areonly present in the front waist region 12 and the rear waist region 14of the absorbent article 10. Of course, step 232 could be performed atan earlier stage of method 210 or not form a step of the method 210.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 15, step 234 can include bonding thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236 to the absorbent article 10 at theadhesive 288 to form the first containment flap 44 and bonding the firsthalf 242 of the substrate 236 to the absorbent article 10 at theadhesive 290 to form the second containment flap 46, as illustrated inthe absorbent article 10 in FIGS. 1-6 and as described above. The firsthalf 242 and the second half 244 of the substrate 236 can be bonded tothe body facing liner 28 and/or the backsheet 26, laterally inward ofthe longitudinal side edges 20, 18, respectively, and laterally inwardfrom the elasticized leg cuffs 59, 57, respectively. The bonding can becompleted by employing a bonding apparatus 296 as is known in the art.In one embodiment, the bonding apparatus 296 can be a pair of rollersthat direct the first half 242 and the second half 244 of the substratein contact with the body facing liner 28, such that the adhesives 288,290 can complete the bond with the body facing liner 28 to form thecontainment flaps 44, 46 on the absorbent article 10. In doing so, theintermittent adhesives 292, 294 can also bond the second surface 240 ofthe second half 244 of the substrate 236 in the third portion 280 andthe first half 242 of the substrate 236 in the third portion 272,respectively, to the body facing liner 28 as well, just as adhesives 92,93, 96, and 97 are shown as intermittently bonding the inner flapprojections 76, 78 to the body facing liner 28 in FIGS. 2 and 4-6. Thus,the third portion 280 of the second half 244 of the substrate 236 thatforms a part of the inner flap projection 76 can be secured to the bodyfacing liner 28 with intermittent adhesive 292 in the front region 12and the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10, but not in thecrotch region 16. And, the third portion 272 of the first half 242 ofthe substrate 236 that forms a part of the inner flap projection 76 canbe secured to the body facing liner 28 with intermittent adhesive 294 inthe front region 12 and the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10,but not in the crotch region 16.

Alternatively and/or additionally to the use of adhesives 288, 290 andintermittent adhesives 292 and 294, the first half 242 and the secondhalf 244 of the substrate 236 can be secured to the body facing liner 28or the backsheet 26 to form the containment flaps 44, 46 with otherbonding methods known in the art, including, but not limited to,pressure bonding or ultrasonically bonding the first half 242 and thesecond half 244 of the substrate 236 to the body facing liner 28 or thebacksheet 26.

In bonding the first half 242 and the second half 244 of the substrate236 to the absorbent article 10 to form the containment flaps 46, 44,the intermittent adhesives 264, 266, 292, 294 can be registered and thefirst half 242 and the second half 244 of the substrate 236 can beattached to the body facing liner 28 (or alternatively the backsheet 26)such that one or more of the intermittent adhesives 264, 266, 292, 294are present in at least a portion of the front waist region 12 and/orthe rear waist region 14, but not in the crotch region 16 of theabsorbent article 10. The application of the intermittent adhesives 264,266 to the first half 242 and the second half 244 of the substrate 236,respectively, can secure the outer flap projections 82, 80 of thecontainment flaps 46, 44, respectively, in the front waist region 12and/or the rear waist region 14, but not in the crotch region 16, of theabsorbent article 10, as previously described and as shown in FIGS. 2and 4-6 (with adhesives 94 and 95 being comparable to intermittentadhesive 266 and adhesives 98 and 99 being comparable to intermittentadhesive 264). Furthermore, the application of the intermittentadhesives 292 and 294 to the second half 244 and the first half 242 ofthe substrate 236, respectively, can secure the inner flap projections76, 78 of the containment flaps 44, 46, respectively, as previouslydescribed and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 (with adhesives 92 and 93being comparable to intermittent adhesive 292 and adhesives 96 and 97being comparable to intermittent adhesive 294).

As an alternative or an addition to intermittent adhesives 264, 266,292, 294, the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flapprojections 80, 82 could be secured in the front waist region 12 and/orthe rear waist region 14 using other bonding methods or structure. Forexample, the inner flap projections 76, 78 could be secured in the frontwaist region 12 and/or the rear waist region 14 by being bonded to thebody facing liner 28 by an intermittent pressure bond or an intermittentultrasonic bond, or the like. Additionally, the outer flap projections80, 82 could be secured in the front waist region 12 and/or the rearwaist region 14 by being bonded to the stem 72, 74 by a pressure bond oran ultrasonic bond, or the like.

Leg Elastics:

Leg elastic members 56, 58 can be secured to the backsheet 26, such asby being bonded thereto by laminate adhesive, generally laterally inwardof the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, of the absorbent article 10.The leg elastic members 56, 58 can form elasticized leg cuffs 57, 59,respectively, that further help to contain body exudates. In anembodiment, the leg elastic members 56, 58 may be disposed between theinner layer 62 and outer layer 60 of the backsheet 26 or between otherlayers of the absorbent article 10. The elasticized leg cuff 57 can bepositioned laterally outward of the stem 72 of the containment flap 44and the elasticized leg cuff 59 can be positioned laterally outward ofthe stem 74 of the containment flap 46. The leg elastic members 56, 58can be a single elastic member as illustrated in the figures herein, oreach leg elastic member 56, 58 can include more than one elastic member.A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the leg elasticmembers 56, 58. Suitable elastic materials can include sheets, strandsor ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplasticelastomeric materials. The elastic materials can be stretched andsecured to a substrate, secured to a gathered substrate, or secured to asubstrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example, with theapplication of heat, such that the elastic retractive forces areimparted to the substrate.

Fastening System:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can include a fastenersystem. The fastener system can include one or more back fasteners 130and one or more front fasteners 132. Portions of the fastener system maybe included in the front waist region 12, back waist region 14, or both.The fastener system can be configured to secure the absorbent article 10about the waist of the wearer and maintain the absorbent article 10 inplace during use. In an embodiment, the back fasteners 130 can includeone or more materials bonded together to form a composite ear as isknown in the art. For example, the composite fastener may be composed ofa stretch component 134, a nonwoven carrier or hook base 136, and afastening component 138.

Waist Elastic Members:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can have waist elasticmembers, 52 and 54, which can be formed of any suitable elasticmaterial. The waist elastic member 52 can be in a rear waist region 12of the absorbent article 10 and the waist elastic member 54 can be in afront waist region 14 of the absorbent article. Suitable elasticmaterials for the waist elastic members 52, 54 can include, but are notlimited to, sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, syntheticrubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric polymers. The elastic materials canbe stretched and bonded to a substrate, bonded to a gathered substrate,or bonded to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, for example,with the application of heat, such that elastic retractive forces areimparted to the substrate. It is to be understood, however, that thewaist elastic members, 52 and 54, may be omitted from the absorbentarticle 10 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Side Panels:

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in an embodiment in which the absorbentarticle 10 can be a training pant, youth pant, diaper pant, or adultabsorbent pant, the absorbent article 10 may have front side panels, 140and 142, and rear side panels, 144 and 146. FIG. 16 provides anon-limiting illustration of an absorbent article 10 that can have sidepanels, such as front side panels, 140 and 142, and rear side panels,144 and 146. The front side panels 140 and 142 and the rear side panels144 and 146 of the absorbent article 10 can be bonded to the absorbentarticle 10 in the respective front and back waist regions, 12 and 14,and can extend outwardly beyond the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20,of the absorbent article 10. In an example, the front side panels, 140and 142, can be bonded to the inner layer 62 of the backsheet 26, suchas being bonded thereto by adhesive, by pressure bonding, by thermalbonding or by ultrasonic bonding. These front side panels, 140 and 142,may also be bonded to the outer layer 60 of the backsheet 26, such as bybeing bonded thereto by adhesive, by pressure bonding, by thermalbonding, or by ultrasonic bonding. The back side panels, 144 and 146,may be secured to the outer and inner layers, 60 and 62 respectively, ofthe backsheet 26 at the back waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10in substantially the same manner as the front side panels, 140 and 142.Alternatively, the front side panels, 140 and 142, and the back sidepanels, 144 and 146, may be formed integrally with the absorbent article10, such as by being formed integrally with the backsheet 26, the bodyfacing liner 28, or other layers of the absorbent article 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 16, the absorbent article 10 can include thecontainment flaps 44, 46 as discussed above. The containment flaps 44,46 can be bonded to the body facing liner 28.

For improved fit and appearance, the front side panels, 140 and 142, andthe back side panels, 144 and 146, can suitably have an average lengthmeasured parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article10 that is about 20 percent or greater, and more suitably about 25percent or greater, of the overall length of the absorbent article 10,also measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 29. For example,absorbent articles 10 having an overall length of about 54 centimeters,the front side panels, 140 and 142, and the back side panels, 144 and146, suitably have an average length of about 10 centimeters or greater,and more suitably have an average length of about 15 centimeters. Eachof the front side panels, 140 and 142, and back side panels, 144 and146, can be constructed of one or more individual, distinct pieces ofmaterial. For example, each front side panel, 140 and 142, and back sidepanel, 144 and 146, can include first and second side panel portions(not shown) joined at a seam (not shown), with at least one of theportions including an elastomeric material. Alternatively, eachindividual front side panel, 140 and 142, and back side panel, 144 and146, can be constructed of a single piece of material folded over uponitself along an intermediate fold line (not shown).

The front side panels, 140 and 142, and back side panels, 144 and 146,can each have an outer edge 148 spaced laterally from the engagementseam 150, a leg end edge 152 disposed toward the longitudinal center ofthe absorbent article 10, and a waist end edge 154 disposed toward alongitudinal end of the absorbent article 10. The leg end edge 152 andwaist end edge 154 can extend from the longitudinal side edges, 18 and20, of the absorbent article 10 to the outer edges 190. The leg endedges 152 of the front side panels, 140 and 142, and back side panels,144 and 146, can form part of the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, ofthe absorbent article 10. The leg end edges 152 of the illustratedabsorbent article 10 can be curved and/or angled relative to thetransverse axis to provide a better fit around the wearer's legs.However, it is understood that only one of the leg end edges 152 can becurved or angled, such as the leg end edge 152 of the back waist region14, or neither of the leg end edges 152 can be curved or angled, withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. The waist end edges 154 canbe parallel to the transverse axis. The waist end edges 154 of the frontside panels, 140 and 142, can form part of the front waist edge 22 ofthe absorbent article 10, and the waist end edges 154 of the back sidepanels, 144 and 146, can form part of the back waist edge 24 of theabsorbent article 10.

The front side panels, 140 and 142, and back side panels, 144 and 146,can include an elastic material capable of stretching laterally.Suitable elastic materials, as well as one described process forincorporating elastic front side panels, 140 and 142, and back sidepanels, 144 and 146, into an absorbent article 10 are described in thefollowing U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10, 1990 to Van Gompel etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,405 issued Jul. 6, 1993 to Pohjola, U.S. Pat.No. 5,104,116 issued Apr. 14, 1992 to Pohjola, and U.S. Pat. No.5,046,272 issued Sep. 10, 1991 to Vogt et al.; all of which areincorporated herein by reference. As an example, suitable elasticmaterials include a stretch-thermal laminate (STL), a neck-bondedlaminate (NBL), a reversibly necked laminate, or a stretch-bondedlaminate (SBL) material. Methods of making such materials are well knownto those skilled in the art and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,220issued May 5, 1987 to Wisneski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,992 issuedJul. 13, 1993 to Morman, and European Patent Application No. EP 0 217032 published on Apr. 8, 1987, in the names of Taylor et al., and PCTApplication WO 01/88245 in the name of Welch et al., all of which areincorporated herein by reference. Other suitable materials are describedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/649,508 to Welch et al. and Ser.No. 12/023,447 to Lake et al., all of which are incorporated herein byreference. Alternatively, the front side panels, 140 and 142, and backside panels, 144 and 146, may include other woven or non-wovenmaterials, such as those described above as being suitable for thebacksheet 26, mechanically pre-strained composites, or stretchable butinelastic materials.

Feminine Hygiene Product:

FIG. 17 provides a non-limiting illustration of an absorbent article 10in the form of a feminine hygiene product such as a menstrual pad orfeminine adult incontinence product. The absorbent article 10 can have alengthwise, longitudinal direction 30 and a transverse, lateraldirection 32. Additionally, the absorbent article 10 can include firstand second longitudinally opposed front and rear end regions, 12 and 14,and an intermediate region (or crotch region) 16, located between theend regions, 12 and 14. The absorbent article 10 can have first andsecond longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, which can be the longitudinalsides of the elongated absorbent article 10. The longitudinal sideedges, 18 and 20, can be contoured to match the shape of the absorbentarticle 10. The absorbent article 10 can have any desired shape such as,for example, a dog bone shape, a race track shape, an hourglass shape,or the like. Additionally, the absorbent article 10 can be substantiallylongitudinally symmetric, or may be longitudinally asymmetric, asdesired.

As representatively shown, the longitudinal dimension of the absorbentarticle 10 can be relatively larger than the transverse lateraldimension of the absorbent article 10. Configurations of the absorbentarticle 10 can include a body facing liner 28 and a backsheet 26, suchas described herein. An absorbent body 34, such as described herein, canbe positioned between the body facing liner 28 and the backsheet 26. Asrepresentatively shown, for example, the peripheries of the body facingliner 28 and the backsheet 26 can be substantially entirely coterminousor the peripheries of the body facing material 28 and the backsheet 26can be partially or entirely non-coterminous. In an embodiment, theabsorbent article 10 can include an acquisition layer 70 such asdescribed herein. In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10 can includethe containment flaps 44, 46 as described herein. The containment flaps44, 46 can be bonded to the body facing liner 28.

In an embodiment in which the absorbent article 10 can be a femininehygiene product, the absorbent article 10 can include laterallyextending wing portions 156 that can be integrally connected to the sideedges, 18 and 20, of the absorbent article 10 in the intermediate region16 of the absorbent article 10. For example, the wing portions 156 maybe separately provided members that are subsequently attached orotherwise operatively joined to the intermediate region 16 of theabsorbent article 10. In other configurations, the wing portions 156 maybe unitarily formed with one or more components of the absorbent article10. As an example, a wing portion 156 may be formed from acorresponding, operative extension of the body facing liner 28, thebacksheet 26, and combinations thereof.

The wing portions 156 can have an appointed storage position (not shown)in which the wing portions 156 are directed generally inwardly towardthe longitudinal axis 29. In various embodiments, the wing portion 156that is connected to one side edge, such as side edge 18, may havesufficient cross-directional length to extend and continue past the axis29 to approach the laterally opposite side edge 20 of the absorbentarticle 10. The storage position of the wing portions 156 can ordinarilyrepresent an arrangement observed when the absorbent article 10 is firstremoved from a wrapper or packaging. Prior to placing the absorbentarticle 10, such as the feminine hygiene product, into a bodyside of anundergarment prior to use, the wing portions 156 can be selectivelyarranged to extend laterally from the side edges, 18 and 20, of theabsorbent article 10 intermediate region 16. After placing the absorbentarticle 10 into the undergarment, the wing portions 156 can beoperatively wrapped and secured around the side edges 18, 20 of theundergarment to help hold the absorbent article 10 in place, in a mannerwell known in the art.

The wing portions 156 can have any operative construction and caninclude a layer of any operative material. Additionally, each wingportion 156 can comprise a composite material. For example, the wingportions 156 can include a spunbond fabric material, a bicomponentspunbond material, a necked spunbond material, a neck-stretched-bondedlaminate (NBL) material, a meltblown fabric material, a bonded cardedweb, a thermal bonded carded web, a through-air bonded carded web, orthe like, as well as combinations thereof.

Each wing portion 156 can include a panel-fastener component (not shown)which can be operatively joined to an appointed engagement surface ofits associated wing portion 156. The panel-fastener component caninclude a system of interengaging mechanical fasteners, a system ofadhesive fasteners, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. In anembodiment, either or both wing portions 156 can include apanel-fastener system which incorporates an operative adhesive. Theadhesive may be a solvent based adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, apressure-sensitive adhesive, or the like, as well as combinationsthereof.

In an embodiment, a garment attachment mechanism (not shown), such as agarment attachment adhesive, can be distributed onto the garment side ofthe absorbent article 10. In an embodiment, the garment adhesive can bedistributed over the garment side of the absorbent article 10 of thebacksheet 26, and one or more layers or sheets of release material canbe removably placed over the garment adhesive for storage prior to use.In an embodiment, the garment attachment mechanism can include anoperative component of a mechanical fastening system. In such anembodiment, the garment attachment mechanism can include an operativecomponent of a hook-and-loop type of fastening system.

Decolorizing Composition:

In an embodiment, a chemical treatment may be employed to alter thecolor of bodily exudates captured by the absorbent article 10. In anembodiment, for example, the treatment may be a decolorizing compositionthat agglutinates (agglomerates) red blood cells in blood and menses andlimits the extent that the red color of menses is visible. One suchcomposition includes a surfactant, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,350,711 to Potts, et al., which is incorporated herein in its entiretyby reference thereto. Non-limiting examples of such surfactants includePluronic® surfactants (tri-block copolymer surfactant), inorganic saltsthat contain a polyvalent anion (e.g., divalent, trivalent, etc.), suchas sulfate (SO₄ ²⁻), phosphate (PO₄ ³⁻), carbonate (CO₃ ²⁻), oxide(O²⁻), etc., and a monovalent cation, such as sodium (Na⁺), potassium(K⁺), lithium (Li⁺), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), etc. Alkali metal cations arealso beneficial. Some examples of salts formed from such ions include,but are not limited to, disodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), dipotassium sulfate(K₂SO₄), disodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), dipotassium carbonate (K₂CO₃),monosodium phosphate (NaH₂PO₄), disodium phosphate (Na₂HPO₄),monopotassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄), dipotassium phosphate (K₂HPO₄), etc.Mixtures of the aforementioned salts may also be effective infacilitating physical separation of red blood cells. For example, amixture of disodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) and monopotassium phosphate(KH₂PO₄) may be employed.

Besides agglutinating agents, the decolorizing composition may alter thechemical structure of hemoglobin to change its color. Examples of suchcompositions are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2009/0062764 to MacDonald, et al., which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference thereto. In an embodiment, the composition caninclude an oxidizing agent that can be generally capable of oxidizinghemoglobin or other substances responsible for unwanted color of thebodily exudates. Some examples of oxidizing agents include, but are notlimited to, peroxygen bleaches (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, percarbonates,persulphates, perborates, peroxyacids, alkyl hydroperoxides, peroxides,diacyl peroxides, ozonides, supereoxides, oxo-ozonides, and periodates);hydroperoxides (e.g., tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide,2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide,di-isopropylbenzene-monohydroperoxide, tert-amyl hydroperoxide and2,5-dimethyl-hexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide); peroxides (e.g., lithiumperoxide, sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide, ammonium peroxide,calcium peroxide, rubidium peroxide, cesium peroxide, strontiumperoxide, barium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, mercury peroxide, silverperoxide, zirconium peroxide, hafnium peroxide, titanium peroxide,phosphorus peroxide, sulphur peroxide, rhenium peroxide, iron peroxide,cobalt peroxide, and nickel peroxide); perborates (e.g., sodiumperborate, potassium perborate, and ammonium perborate); persulphates(e.g., sodium persulphate, potassium dipersulphate, and potassiumpersulphate); and so forth. Other suitable oxidizing agents include, butare not limited to omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acids,α-linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid,docosahexaenoic acid, eicosadienoinc acid, eicosatrienoic acid, etc.

The decolorizing composition may be applied to any liquid permeablelayer of the absorbent article 10 where it can contact aqueous fluidsexuded by the body, such as, for example, menses, such as the bodyfacing liner 28, acquisition layer 70, fluid transfer layer 68,absorbent body 34, backsheet 26, and combinations thereof. In anembodiment, the decolorizing composition may be applied to only aportion of the surface of the layer(s) to which it is applied to ensurethat the layer(s) is still capable of retaining sufficient absorbentproperties. In an embodiment, it may be desired that the decolorizingcomposition is positioned closer to the absorbent body 40. In anembodiment, an additional layer (not shown) may be employed in theabsorbent article 10 and may be applied with the decolorizingcomposition that is in contact with the absorbent body 40. Theadditional layer may be formed from a variety of different porousmaterials, such as a perforated film, nonwoven web (e.g., cellulosicweb, spunbond web, meltblown web, etc.), foams, etc. In an embodiment,the additional layer may be in the form of a hollow enclosure (e.g.,sachet, bag, etc.) that is folded so that it partially or completelysurrounds the absorbent body 40. The decolorizing composition may bedisposed within this enclosure so that it remains sealed therein priorto use.

Packaging Fold Lines of the Absorbent Article

Any of the absorbent articles 10 including the containment flaps 44, 46discussed above can be folded to reduce the length and width of theabsorbent article 10 for packaging purposes. Equipment used to fold theabsorbent articles 10 is known to one having ordinary skill in the art.

With respect to FIGS. 18-25, the selective location of packaging foldlines 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, 310 d, 310 e, 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and312 e on absorbent article 10 as well as their effects on thecontainment flaps 44, 46 when the absorbent article 10 is unfolded andplaced in a relaxed condition will now be discussed. Turning first toFIG. 18, a top plan view of an absorbent article 10, such as a diaper,as shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration. The absorbent article 10 includes the containment flaps44, 46 bonded to the body facing liner 28, as previously discussed.FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrates four fold lines 310 a, 310 b, 312 a, and 312b that provide multiple options for providing packaging folds in theabsorbent article 10. Each of the four fold lines 310 a, 310 b, 312 a,and 312 b can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 ofthe absorbent article 10 and can extend from the front end edge 22 tothe rear end edge 24.

First, the absorbent article 10 can include fold lines 310 a and 312 a.Fold line 310 a can be on the same side of the longitudinal axis 29 asthe containment flap 44 and the fold line 312 a can be on the same sideof the longitudinal axis 29 as the containment flap 46. The fold line310 a can be located such that a distal edge 81 of the outer flapprojection 80 on the containment flap 44 is positioned laterally insideof the fold line 310 a. Or, in other words, the distal edge 81 of theouter flap projection 80 on the containment flap 44 can be closer to thelongitudinal axis 29 than the fold line 310 a. Similarly, fold line 312a can be located such that a distal edge 83 of the outer flap projection82 on the containment flap 46 is positioned laterally inside of the foldline 312 a, and thus, the distal edge 83 can be closer to thelongitudinal axis 29 than the fold line 312 a. The absorbent article 10can be folded along lines 310 a and 312 a by folding a longitudinalportion 314 of the absorbent article 10 laterally outside of the foldingline 310 a towards the longitudinal axis 29 and on top of the bodyfacing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 and folding a longitudinalportion 316 of the absorbent article 10 laterally outside of the foldingline 312 a towards the longitudinal axis 29 and on top of the bodyfacing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28, as depicted in FIG. 18.

By providing the fold lines 310 a, 312 a laterally outside of the distaledges 81, 83 of the outer flap projections 80, 82, respectively, theshape of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flapprojections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46, respectively, can bemaintained when the absorbent article is folded into a packagingposition along lines 310 a, 312 a. As noted above, maintaining the uppersurfaces 104, 110 of the inner flap projections 76, 78, respectively,and the upper surfaces 106, 112 of the outer flap projections 80, 82,respectively, to be level with one another can provide increased contactarea with the wearer's skin, which, in one embodiment, can help providebeneficial gasketing properties against body exudates.

Although fold lines 310 a and 312 a are shown as being laterally outwardfrom the stem 72, 74 and foot portions 73, 75 of the containment flaps44, 46, respectively, it is contemplated that fold lines 310 a and 312 acan extend through the foot portions 73, 75 and/or the stems 72, 74 ofthe containment flaps 44, 46, respectively, and yet still achieve thedesired properties noted above.

Second, the absorbent article 10 can alternatively include fold lines310 b and 312 b. Fold line 310 b can be on the same side of thelongitudinal axis 29 as the containment flap 44 and the fold line 312 bcan be on the same side of the longitudinal axis 29 as the containmentflap 46. The fold line 310 b can be located such that a distal edge 77of the inner flap projection 76 on the containment flap 44 is positionedlaterally outside of the fold line 310 b. Stated in another way, thedistal edge 77 of the inner flap projection 76 can be farther from thelongitudinal axis 29 than the fold line 310 b. Similarly, fold line 312b can be located such that a distal edge 79 of the inner flap projection78 of the containment flap 46 is positioned laterally outside of thefold line 312 b. Thus, the distal edge 79 of the inner flap projection78 can be farther from the longitudinal axis 29 than the fold line 312b. The absorbent article 10 can be folded along lines 310 b and 312 b byfolding a longitudinal portion 316 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 310 b towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 andfolding a longitudinal portion 320 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 312 b towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28, asdepicted in FIG. 18.

Similar to the discussion above with respect to fold lines 310 a, 312 a,the selective positioning of fold lines 310 b and 312 b can maintain theintegrity and the shape of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theouter flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46,respectively, which can provide increased contact area with the wearer'sskin, as noted above. Of course, depending on the orientation of thestems 72, 74 and the foot portions 73, 75 of the containment flaps 44,46, respectively, the fold lines 310 b, 312 b could extend through thestems 72, 74 and/or the foot portions 73, 75 of the containment flaps44, 46, respectively, yet have the distal edges 77, 79 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46, still be laterally outside of the fold lines310 b, 312 b, respectively. As a result, the same benefits noted aboveregarding maintaining the upper surfaces 104, 110 of the inner flapprojections 76, 78 and the upper surfaces 106, 112 of the outer flapprojections 80, 82, respectively, to be level with one another can stillbe realized in this alternative folding configuration.

Additionally, it is within the scope of this disclosure that theabsorbent article 10 could be folded with packaging fold lines 310 a and312 b or packaging fold lines 310 b and 312 a. Depending onconsiderations such as the desired folded size of the absorbent article10 and the size of the absorbent article 10 in an unfolded condition,one or more of these folding combinations may be desirable. The benefitsof having one of the distal edges 81, 83 of the outer flap projections80, 82 laterally inside of one of the packaging fold lines 310 a or 312a and one of the distal edges 77, 79 of the inner flap projections 76,78 laterally outside one of the packaging fold lines 310 b or 312 bstill provides the benefits for the containment flaps 44, 46 notedabove. Additionally, it is also within the scope of this disclosure thatthe absorbent article 10 could be folded with just a single packagingfold line 310 a, 310 b, 312 a, or 312 b in the location shown in FIG.18, with another packaging fold line extending through the absorbentarticle 10 at a location not shown for packaging fold lines 310 a, 310b, 312 a, or 312 b to achieve the benefits noted above for at least oneof the containment flaps 44, 46.

Furthermore, the securing of at least a portion of the inner flapprojections 76, 78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46, respectively, in the front end region 12and/or the rear end region 14 as previously discussed can also provideadditional benefits in helping the inner flap projections 76, 78 and theouter flap projections 80, 82 remain level in the crotch region 16 afterthe absorbent article 10 is unfolded by a user or wearer and applied tothe wearer. As one example, if the absorbent article 10 is folded suchthat portion 314 is folded onto the body facing liner 28 at fold line310 a, a portion of the outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap44 may be susceptible to unintentionally folding on top of the innerflap projection 76. Similarly, if the longitudinal portion 316 is foldedonto the body facing liner 28 at fold line 312 a, a portion of the outerflap projection 82 of the containment flap 46 may be susceptible tounintentionally folding on top of the inner flap projection 78. Becausethe absorbent article 10 may remain in this folded nature for some time,the unintended folding of portions of the outer flap projections 80, 82on top of the inner flap projections 76, 78, respectively, may result inthe upper surfaces 104, 110 of the containment flap 44 and the uppersurfaces 106, 112 of the containment flap 46 being substantiallynon-uniform with one another and substantially non-uniform along alength of the absorbent article 10 in the longitudinal direction 30,which may lead to less than desirable gasketing of body exudates by thecontainment flaps 44, 46. Although some manipulation of the uppersurfaces 104, 106 and 110, 112 of the containment flaps 44, 46,respectively, could be desirable in certain circumstances, as will bediscussed below, it is believed that such manipulation of thecontainment flaps 44, 46 should be controlled in order to provideintended benefits as opposed to potential drawbacks for the gasketingproperties of the containment flaps 44, 46.

FIGS. 20-25 illustrate alternative packaging fold lines 310 c, 310 d,310 e, 312 c, 312 d, 312 e for an absorbent article 10 including thecontainment flaps 44, 46 discussed above. FIGS. 20-25 each show thecontainment flaps 44, 46 as well as the body facing liner 28 of theabsorbent article 10, but omit other features of the absorbent article10 for purposes of clarity. As shown in FIGS. 20, 22, and 24, when theabsorbent article is in the stretched condition prior to folding, thestems 72, 74 of the containment flaps 44, 46 extend substantiallyparallel to the body facing liner 28. Additionally, the inner flapprojections 76, 78 extend substantially parallel to the stems 72, 74,towards the longitudinal axis 29 and the outer flap projections 80, 82extend substantially parallel to the stems 72, 74 away from thelongitudinal axis 29 when the absorbent article 10 is in the stretchedcondition prior to folding. Each pair of fold lines 310 c and 312 c, 310d and 312 d, and 310 e and 312 e are positioned such that the fold lines310 c and 312 c, 310 d and 312 d, and 310 e and 312 e can extend throughthe upper surface 106 of the inner flap projection 76 and/or the uppersurface 110 of the outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap 44and/or the upper surface 110 of the inner flap projection 78 and/or theupper surface 112 of the outer flap projection 82 of the containmentflap 46. By folding the absorbent article 10 and the containment flaps44, 46 in this manner for packaging purposes, the containment flaps 44,46 can be kept in an intended position for the period of time that theabsorbent article 10 is kept in the packaging. When a user or wearerremoves the absorbent article 10 from the packaging, unfolds theabsorbent article 10 and places it in the relaxed condition such thatthe elastic in the absorbent article 10 will gather, the containmentflaps 44, 46 can have a tendency to retain some effects from the foldlines 310 c and 312 c, 310 d and 312 d, and 310 e and 312 e that canprovide a difference in shape of the containment flaps 44, 46 ascompared to the containment flaps 44, 46 when no fold lines extendthrough the inner flap projections 76, 78 or the outer flap projections80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46. In some circumstances, thiscontrolled shape deformation of the containment flaps 44, 46 can bedesirable to help provide beneficial gasketing properties.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate packaging fold lines 310 c, 312 c extendingthrough the absorbent article 10 including containment flaps 44, 46. Thefold lines 310 c and 312 c can each extend substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis 29 from a front end edge 22 to a rear end edge 24 ofthe absorbent article 10, just as fold lines 310 a, 310 b, 312 a, and312 b were discussed above. The fold line 310 c can be on an oppositeside of the longitudinal axis 29 as the fold line 312 c. As shown inFIG. 20, the fold line 310 c extends through the containment flap 44 atapproximately the intersection between the stem 72, the inner flapprojection 76, and the outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap44. Similarly, the fold line 312 c extends through the containment flap46 at approximately the intersection between the stem 74, the inner flapprojection 78, and the outer flap projection 82 of the containment flap46 when the absorbent article 10 is in a stretched and unfoldedcondition. Because fold lines 310 c, 312 c extend substantially throughthe containment flaps 44, 46 at such an intersection point between theinner flap projections 76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82,respectively, for purposes herein, it can be considered that the foldlines 310 c, 312 c each extend through at least a portion of theirrespective inner flap projection 76, 78 as well as their respectiveouter flap projections 80, 82.

The absorbent article 10 can be folded along lines 310 c and 312 c byfolding a longitudinal portion 322 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 310 c towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 andfolding a longitudinal portion 324 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 312 c towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28.

FIG. 21 illustrates the shape the containment flaps 44, 46 can takeafter the absorbent article 10 is unfolded from the folding lines 310 c,312 c as shown in FIG. 20 and when the absorbent article 10 is in arelaxed condition. As depicted in FIG. 21, the upper surface 104 of theinner flap projection 76 and the upper surface 106 of the outer flapprojection 80 of the containment flap 44 can be not parallel to oneanother as in other embodiments discussed above. Instead, the inner flapprojection 76 can extend away from the stem 72 in an upward fashionrelative to the body facing liner 28 and the outer flap projection 80can extend away from the stem 72 in an upward fashion relative to thebody facing liner 28 such that the stem 72, the inner flap projection76, and the outer flap projection 80 form a “Y-shape.” Moreparticularly, the upper surface 104 of the inner flap projection 76 canform an angle α with the stem 72 and the upper surface 106 of the outerflap projection 80 can form an angle β with the stem 72, with angle αand angle β not being equal to 90° in this embodiment. The angle α canbe equal to or substantially similar to β as shown in FIG. 21, but neednot be. As a non-limiting example, the angle α can be from about 5° toabout 85°, more preferably from about 15° to about 75°, and even morepreferably from about 30° to about 60°. As a non-limiting example, theangle β can be from about 5° to about 85°, more preferably from about15° to about 75°, and even more preferably from about 30° to about 60°.Of course, other values for the angle α and the angle β are within thescope of this disclosure.

Similarly, the upper surface 110 of the inner flap projection 78 and theupper surface 112 of the outer flap projection 82 of the containmentflap 46 are not parallel to one another as in other embodimentsdiscussed above. As shown in FIG. 21, the inner flap projection 78 canextend away from the stem 74 in an upward fashion relative to the bodyfacing liner 28 and the outer flap projection 82 can extend away fromthe stem 74 in an upward fashion relative to the body facing liner 28such that the stem 74, the inner flap projection 78, and the outer flapprojection 82 form a “Y-shape.” Additionally, the upper surface 110 ofthe inner flap projection 78 forms an angle α′ with the stem 74 and theupper surface 112 of the outer flap projection 82 forms an angle β′ withthe stem 74, with angle α′ and angle β′ not being equal to 90° in thisembodiment. The angle α′ can be equal or substantially similar to theangle β′, but need not be. As a non-limiting example, the angle α′ canbe from about 5° to about 85°, more preferably from about 15° to about75°, and even more preferably from about 30° to about 60°. As anon-limiting example, the angle β′ can be from about 5° to about 85°,more preferably from about 15° to about 75°, and even more preferablyfrom about 30° to about 60°. Of course, other values for the angle α′and the angle β′ are within the scope of this disclosure. Although it ispreferred if the angle α is substantially equal to α′, such need not bethe case. Similarly, although is preferred if the angle β issubstantially equal to β′, such need not be the case.

Although the fold lines 310 c, 312 c extend through the stems 72, 74,respectively, and may create a tendency for the stems 72, 74 to retainsuch fold lines 310 c, 312 c, such tendency is minimized by theelasticized nature of the inner flap projections 76, 78, and the outerflap projections 80, 82, that cause the stems 72, 74 to extend away fromthe body facing liner 28 when the absorbent article 10 in the relaxedcondition.

Such a controlled shape of the containment flaps 44, 46 can provideincreased gasketing properties in certain circumstances. For example,the “Y-shape” formed by the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outerflap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46 can adapt to awearer's skin by flexing as needed. Although the inner flap projections76, 78 and the outer flap projections 80, 82 can flex to adapt to awearer's skin, they may still provide some residual force against thewearer's skin to return to their position and shape as shown in FIG. 21,providing an enhanced sealing force against the wearer's skin. Thiscould be especially beneficial in absorbent articles 10 directed towardslarger children or adults.

Furthermore, the securing of at least a portion of the inner flapprojections 76, 78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46, respectively, in the front end region 12and/or the rear end region 14 as previously discussed can also provideadditional benefits for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Forexample, securing at least a portion of the inner flap projections 76,78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44,46, respectively, in the front end region 12 and/or the rear end region14, can help maintain some degree of separation between the inner flapprojection 76 with the outer flap projection 80 for the containment flap44 and some degree of separation between the inner flap projection 78and the outer flap projection 82 for the containment flap 46. This mayhelp to prevent the inner flap projections 76, 78 from foldingcompletely against the outer flap projections 80, 82, respectively, orvice versa, either before, during, or after application of the absorbentarticle 10 to the wearer, which may not be desirable. However, it iswithin the scope of this disclosure that the inner flap projections 76,78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44,46 need not be secured in at least a portion of the front end region 12and/or the rear end region 14.

Turning now to FIGS. 22 and 23, fold lines 310 d and 312 d are shownextending through containment flaps 44, 46. Fold lines 310 d and 312 dcan each extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 froma front end edge 22 to a rear end edge 24 of the absorbent article 10,just as fold lines 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, 312 a, 312 b, and 312 c werediscussed above. The fold line 310 d can extend through the containmentflap 44 through the outer flap projection 80. Similarly, the fold line312 d can extend through the containment flap 46 through the outer flapprojection 82. The fold line 310 d can be on an opposite side of thelongitudinal axis 29 as the fold line 312 d.

The absorbent article 10 can be folded along lines 310 d and 312 d byfolding a longitudinal portion 326 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 310 d towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 andfolding a longitudinal portion 328 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 312 d towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28.

FIG. 23 illustrates the shape the containment flaps 44, 46 can takeafter the absorbent article 10 is unfolded from the folding lines 310 d,312 d as shown in FIG. 22 and when the absorbent article 10 is in arelaxed condition. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the upper surface 106 ofthe outer flap projection 80 of the containment flap 44 can form anangle θ with the upper surface 104 of the inner flap projection 76, suchthat the upper surface 106 of the outer flap projection 80 is notparallel to the upper surface 104 of the inner flap projection 76, asdiscussed in other embodiments. As a non-limiting example, the angle θcan be from about 90° to about 175°, more preferably from about 110° toabout 165°, and even more preferably from about 120° to about 155°. Theouter flap projection 80 can extend away from the stem 72 in an upwardfashion relative to the body facing liner 28. Additionally, the uppersurface 106 of the outer flap projection 80 can form an angle β with thestem 72 not being equal to 90° in this embodiment. As a non-limitingexample, the angle β can be from about 0° to about 85°, more preferablyfrom about 10° to about 75°, and even more preferably from about 30° toabout 60°. Of course, other values for the angle θ and the angle β arewithin the scope of this disclosure.

Similarly, the upper surface 112 of the outer flap projection 82 of thecontainment flap 46 can form an angle θ′ with the upper surface 110 ofthe inner flap projection 78, such that the upper surface 112 of theouter flap projection 82 is not parallel to the upper surface 110 of theinner flap projection 78, as discussed in other embodiments. As anon-limiting example, the angle θ′ can be from about 90° to about 175°,more preferably from about 110° to about 165°, and even more preferablyfrom about 120° to about 155°. As shown in FIG. 23, the outer flapprojection 82 can extend away from the stem 74 in an upward fashionrelative to the body facing liner 28. Additionally, the upper surface112 of the outer flap projection 82 forms an angle β′ with the stem 74not being equal to 90° in this embodiment. As a non-limiting example,the angle β′ can be from about 0° to about 85°, more preferably fromabout 10° to about 75°, and even more preferably from about 30° to about60°. Of course, other values for the angle θ′ and the angle β′ arewithin the scope of this disclosure. Although it is preferred if theangle θ is substantially equal to θ′, such need not be the case.Similarly, although is preferred if the angle β is substantially equalto β′, such need not be the case.

As noted above with respect to fold lines 310 c and 312 c, although thefold lines 310 d, 312 d extend through the stems 72, 74, respectively,and may create a tendency for the stems 72, 74 to retain such a foldline 310 d, 312 d, such tendency is minimized by the elasticized natureof the inner flap projections 76, 78, and the outer flap projections 80,82, that cause the stems 72, 74 to extend away from the body facingliner 28 when the absorbent article 10 in the relaxed condition.

A controlled shape having the outer flap projections 80, 82 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46, respectively, extend away from the stems 72,74 and upwards in relation to the body facing liner 28 can providebeneficial gasketing properties. Depending on the spacing of thecontainment flaps 44, 46 from one another and the anatomy of the wearer,the angled nature of the outer flap projections 80, 82 may more closelymimic the wearer's skin profile. Additionally, if the outer flapprojections 80, 82 flex to adapt to the wearer's skin, they can providesome residual force against the wearer's skin to return to theirposition and shape as shown in FIG. 23, providing an enhanced sealingforce against the wearer's skin at the outermost point of lateralcontainment for the containment flaps 44, 46.

Although the fold lines 310 d, 312 d are depicted in FIG. 22 asextending through a specific portion of the outer flap projections 80,82, the fold lines 310 d, 312 d could be positioned closer to the distaledges 81, 83 of the outer flap projections 80, 82, respectively, orcloser to the adhesives 88, 90, respectively, that define theintersection between the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outerflap projections 80, 82, as desired.

The securing of at least a portion of the inner flap projections 76, 78and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44,46, respectively, in the front end region 12 and/or the rear end region14 as previously discussed can also provide additional benefits for theembodiment shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. For example, securing at least aportion of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and/or the outer flapprojections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46, respectively, in thefront end region 12 and/or the rear end region 14, can help maintain theinner flap projections 76, 78 be substantially perpendicular to thestems 72, 74, respectively. It can also help maintain desirable angles βand β′ in the crotch region 16 and prevent the outer flap projections80, 82 from folding completely on top of the inner flap projections 76,78 respectively, or vice versa, either before, during, or afterapplication of the absorbent article 10 to the wearer, which may not bedesirable. However, it is within the scope of this disclosure that theinner flap projections 76, 78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82of the containment flaps 44, 46 need not be secured in at least aportion of the front end region 12 and/or the rear end region 14.

FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate yet another alternative location forpackaging fold lines 310 e, 312 e in the absorbent article 10. The foldlines 310 e and 312 e are shown extending through containment flaps 44,46. Fold lines 310 e and 312 e can each extend substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis 29 from a front end edge 22 to a rear end edge 24of the absorbent article 10, as fold lines 310 a, 310 b, 312 a, 312 b,310 c, 312 c, 310 d, and 312 d discussed above. The fold line 310 e canextend through the containment flap 44 through the inner flap projection76. Similarly, the fold line 312 e can extend through the containmentflap 46 through the inner flap projection 78. The fold line 310 e can beon an opposite side of the longitudinal axis 29 as the fold line 312 e.

The absorbent article 10 can be folded along lines 310 e and 312 e byfolding a longitudinal portion 330 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 310 e towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28 andfolding a longitudinal portion 332 of the absorbent article 10 laterallyoutside of the folding line 312 e towards the longitudinal axis 29 andon top of the body facing surface 27 of the body facing liner 28.

FIG. 25 provides an exemplary illustration of the shape the containmentflaps 44, 46 can take after the absorbent article 10 is unfolded fromthe folding lines 310 e, 312 e as shown in FIG. 24 and when theabsorbent article 10 is in a relaxed condition. The upper surface 104 ofthe inner flap projection 76 can extend away from the stem 72 in anupward fashion relative to the body facing liner 28 and can form anangle γ with the upper surface 106 of the outer flap projection 80, suchthat the upper surface 104 of the inner flap projection 76 is notparallel to the upper surface 106 of the outer flap projection 80, asdescribed in other embodiments discussed above. As a non-limitingexample, the angle γ can be from about 90° to about 175°, morepreferably from about 110° to about 165°, and even more preferably fromabout 120° to about 155°. Additionally, the upper surface 104 of theinner flap projection 76 can form an angle α with the stem 72 not beingequal to 90° in this embodiment. As a non-limiting example, the angle αcan be from about 0° to about 85°, more preferably from about 10° toabout 75°, and even more preferably from about 30° to about 60°. Ofcourse, other values for the angle γ and the angle α are within thescope of this disclosure.

The upper surface 110 of the inner flap projection 78 can extend awayfrom the stem 74 in an upward fashion relative to the body facing liner28 and can form an angle γ′ with the upper surface 112 of the outer flapprojection 82, such that the upper surface 110 of the inner flapprojection 78 is not parallel to the upper surface 112 of the outer flapprojection 82, as described in other embodiments discussed above. As anon-limiting example, the angle γ′ can be from about 90° to about 175°,more preferably from about 110° to about 165°, and even more preferablyfrom about 120° to about 155°. Additionally, the upper surface 110 ofthe inner flap projection 78 can form an angle α′ with the stem 72 notbeing equal to 90° in this embodiment. As a non-limiting example, theangle α can be from about 0° to about 85°, more preferably from about10° to about 75°, and even more preferably from about 30° to about 60°.Of course, other values for the angle γ′ and the angle α′ are within thescope of this disclosure. Although it is preferred if the angle γ issubstantially equal to γ′, such need not be the case. Similarly,although is preferred if the angle α is substantially equal to α′, suchneed not be the case.

As noted above with respect to fold lines 310 c, 312 c, 310 d, and 312d, although the fold lines 310 e, 312 e extend through the stems 72, 74,respectively, and may create a tendency for the stems 72, 74 to retainsuch a fold line 310 e, 312 e, such tendency is minimized by theelasticized nature of the inner flap projections 76, 78, and the outerflap projections 80, 82, that cause the stems 72, 74 to extend away fromthe body facing liner 28 when the absorbent article 10 in the relaxedcondition.

A controlled shape having the inner flap projections 76, 78 of thecontainment flaps 44, 46, respectively, extend away from the stems 72,74 and upwards in relation to the body-facing liner 28 can providebeneficial gasketing properties. Depending on the spacing of thecontainment flaps 44, 46 from one another and the anatomy of the wearer,the angled nature of the inner flap projections 76, 78 may more closelymimic the wearer's skin profile. Additionally, if the inner flapprojections 76, 78 flex to adapt to the wearer's skin, they can providesome residual force against the wearer's skin to return to theirposition and shape as shown in FIG. 25, providing an enhanced sealingforce against the wearer's skin at the innermost point of lateralcontainment for the containment flaps 44, 46.

Although the fold lines 310 e, 312 e are depicted in FIG. 24 asextending through a specific portion of the inner flap projections 76,78, the fold lines 310 e, 312 e could be positioned closer to the distaledges 77, 79 of the inner flap projections 76, 78, respectively, orcloser to the adhesives 88, 90, respectively that define theintersection between the inner flap projections 76, 78 and the outerflap projections 80, 82, as desired.

The securing of at least a portion of the inner flap projections 76, 78and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44,46, respectively, in the front end region 12 and/or the rear end region14 as previously discussed can also provide additional benefits for theembodiment shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. For example, securing at least aportion of the inner flap projections 76, 78 and/or the outer flapprojections 80, 82 of the containment flaps 44, 46, respectively, in thefront end region 12 and/or the rear end region 14, can help maintain theouter flap projections 80, 82 be substantially perpendicular to thestems 72, 74, respectively. It can also help maintain desirable angles αand α′ in the crotch region 16 and prevent the outer flap projections80, 82 from folding completely on top of the inner flap projections 76,78, respectively, or vice versa, either before, during, or afterapplication of the absorbent article 10 to the wearer, which may not bedesirable. However, it is within the scope of this disclosure that theinner flap projections 76, 78 and/or the outer flap projections 80, 82of the containment flaps 44, 46 need not be secured in at least aportion of the front end region 12 and/or the rear end region 14.

Although it may be preferred in some circumstances to have symmetricalcontainment flaps 44, 46 and/or symmetrical packaging fold lines in theabsorbent article 10, it is also within the scope of this disclosurethat an absorbent article 10 can include non-symmetrical containmentflaps 44, 46 and/or non-symmetrical packaging fold lines. For example,an absorbent article 10 could include one of the packaging fold lines310 a or 310 b illustrated in FIGS. 18-19 or one of the packaging foldlines 310 c, 310 d, or 310 e illustrated in FIGS. 20-25 along with anypackaging fold line 310 a, 310 b illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 orpackaging fold line 312 c, 312 d, or 312 e illustrated in FIGS. 20-25 inany combination that was not described above. As merely one example, anabsorbent article 10 could include packaging fold line 310 d illustratedin FIGS. 22 and 23 and packaging fold line 310 e illustrated in FIGS. 24and 25, achieving the individual benefits for each containment flapnoted above. Depending on the size, shape, and other features of theabsorbent article 10 and the intended size of the folded absorbentarticle 10, one or more of these non-symmetric packaging fold linescombinations can be desirable.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description are, in relevant part,incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not tobe construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to thepresent invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of aterm in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definitionof the term in a document incorporated by references, the meaning ordefinition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An absorbent article comprising: a longitudinalaxis and a lateral axis; a front end region, a rear end region, a crotchregion, the crotch region being disposed between the front end regionand the rear end region; a front end edge in the front end region, arear end edge in the rear end region, a first longitudinal side edge anda second longitudinal side edge, the first longitudinal side edge andthe second longitudinal side edge each extending from the front end edgeto the rear end edge; a body facing liner comprising a body facingsurface and a garment facing surface; a backsheet coupled to the bodyfacing liner; an absorbent body positioned between the body facing linerand the backsheet; a first containment flap and a second containmentflap, the first containment flap and the second containment flap eachextending from the front end region to the rear end region, the firstcontainment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis, thesecond containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis,the first containment flap and the second containment flap eachcomprising: a stem bonded to one of the body facing liner and thebacksheet, the stem configured to extend away from the body facingsurface of the body facing liner and the backsheet in at least thecrotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition; aninner flap projection extending laterally from the stem towards thelongitudinal axis when the absorbent article is in the relaxedcondition, at least a portion of the inner flap projection beingelasticized; and an outer flap projection, the outer flap projectionextending laterally from the stem away from the longitudinal axis andthe inner flap projection to a distal end when the absorbent article isin the relaxed condition, at least a portion of the outer flapprojection being elasticized, a first fold line of the absorbent articlefor packaging being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis onthe first side of the longitudinal axis and extending from the front endedge to the rear end edge; a second fold line of the absorbent articlefor packaging being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis onthe second side of the longitudinal axis and extending from the frontend edge to the rear end edge; and wherein the distal end of the outerflap projection of the first containment flap is positioned laterallyinside of the first folding line when the absorbent article is in anunfolded and stretched condition.
 2. The absorbent article of claim 1,wherein the distal end of the outer flap projection of the secondcontainment flap is positioned laterally inside of the second foldingline when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and stretchedcondition.
 3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the stem of thefirst containment flap is laterally inside of the first folding line andthe stem of the second containment flap is laterally inside of thesecond folding line.
 4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein thestem of the first containment flap and the stem of the secondcontainment flap are bonded to the body facing liner.
 5. The absorbentarticle of claim 1, wherein the outer flap projection of the firstcontainment flap and the outer flap projection of the second containmentflap are each secured in at least a portion of the rear end region andat least a portion of the front end region.
 6. The absorbent article ofclaim 5, wherein the outer flap projection of the first containment flapis bonded to the stem of the first containment flap in the at least aportion of the rear end region and the at least a portion of the frontend region and the outer flap projection of the second containment flapis bonded to the stem of the second containment flap in the at least aportion of the rear end region and the at least a portion of the frontend region.
 7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the inner flapprojection of the first containment flap and the inner flap projectionof the second containment flap are each secured in at least a portion ofthe front end region and at least a portion of the rear end region. 8.An absorbent article comprising: a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;a front end region, a rear end region, a crotch region, the crotchregion being disposed between the front end region and the rear endregion; a front end edge in the front end region, a rear end edge in therear end region, a first longitudinal side edge and a secondlongitudinal side edge, the first longitudinal side edge and the secondlongitudinal side edge each extending from the front end edge to therear end edge; a body facing liner comprising a body facing surface anda garment facing surface; a backsheet coupled to the body facing liner;an absorbent body positioned between the body facing liner and thebacksheet; a first containment flap and a second containment flap, thefirst containment flap and the second containment flap each extendingfrom the front end region to the rear end region, the first containmentflap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis, the secondcontainment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis, thefirst containment flap and the second containment flap each comprising:a stem bonded to one of the body facing liner and the backsheet, thestem configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet in at least the crotch region when theabsorbent article is in a relaxed condition, the stem of the firstcontainment flap being positioned laterally inward of the firstlongitudinal side edge and the stem of the second containment flap beingpositioned laterally inward of the second longitudinal side edge; aninner flap projection extending laterally from the stem towards thelongitudinal axis to a distal end when the absorbent article is in thepartially relaxed state, at least a portion of the inner flap projectionbeing elasticized; and an outer flap projection, the outer flapprojection extending laterally from the stem away from the longitudinalaxis and the inner flap projection when the absorbent article is in therelaxed condition, at least a portion of the outer flap projection beingelasticized, a first fold line of the absorbent article for packagingbeing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the first sideof the longitudinal axis and extending from the front end edge to therear end edge; a second fold line of the absorbent article for packagingbeing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the second sideof the longitudinal axis and extending from the front end edge to therear end edge; wherein the distal end of the inner flap projection ofthe first containment flap is positioned laterally outside of the firstfolding line when the absorbent article is in an unfolded and stretchedcondition, and wherein the first fold line extends through at least aportion of the absorbent body.
 9. The absorbent article of claim 8,wherein the distal end of the inner flap projection of the secondcontainment flap is positioned laterally outside of the second foldingline when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and stretchedcondition.
 10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the stem of thefirst containment flap is laterally outside of the first folding lineand the stem of the second containment flap is laterally outside of thesecond folding line.
 11. The absorbent article of claim 8, furthercomprising: a first elasticized leg cuff and a second elasticized legcuff, the first elasticized leg cuff being positioned on the first sideof the longitudinal axis and laterally outward from the stem of thefirst containment flap, the second elasticized leg cuff being positionedon the second side of the longitudinal axis and laterally outward fromthe stem of the second containment flap.
 12. The absorbent article ofclaim 8, wherein the outer flap projection of the first containment flapand the outer flap projection of the second containment flap are eachsecured in at least a portion of the rear end region and at least aportion of the front end region.
 13. The absorbent article of claim 12,wherein the outer flap projection of the first containment flap isbonded to the stem of the first containment flap in the at least aportion of the rear end region and the at least a portion of the frontend region and the outer flap projection of the second containment flapis bonded to the stem of the second containment flap in the at least aportion of the rear end region and the at least a portion of the frontend region.
 14. The absorbent article of claim 12, further comprising awaist elastic coupled to the body facing liner and the first and thesecond containment flap in the rear end region; the waist elasticincluding a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, thegarment facing surface of the waist elastic being bonded to the outerflap projection to secure the outer flap projection of the firstcontainment flap in the at least a portion of the rear end region and tosecure the outer flap projection of the second containment flap in theat least a portion of the rear end region.
 15. The absorbent article ofclaim 12, wherein the inner flap projection of the first containmentflap and the inner flap projection of the second containment flap areeach secured in at least a portion of the front end region and at leasta portion of the rear end region.
 16. An absorbent article comprising: alongitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a front end region, a rear endregion, a crotch region, the crotch region being disposed between thefront end region and the rear end region; a front end edge in the frontend region, a rear end edge in the rear end region, a first longitudinalside edge and a second longitudinal side edge, the first longitudinalside edge and the second longitudinal side edge each extending from thefront end edge to the rear end edge; a body facing liner comprising abody facing surface and a garment facing surface; a backsheet coupled tothe body facing liner; an absorbent body positioned between the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet; a first containment flap and a secondcontainment flap, the first containment flap and the second containmentflap each extending from the front end region to the rear end region,the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinalaxis, the second containment flap being on a second side of thelongitudinal axis, the first containment flap and the second containmentflap each comprising: a stem bonded to one of the body facing liner andthe backsheet, the stem configured to extend away from the body facingsurface of the body facing liner and the backsheet in at least thecrotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition andextend substantially parallel to the body facing surface of the bodyfacing liner and the backsheet when the absorbent article is in astretched condition; an inner flap projection extending laterally fromthe stem towards the longitudinal axis when the absorbent article is inthe relaxed condition, the inner flap projection extending substantiallyparallel to the stem towards the longitudinal axis when the absorbentarticle is in the stretched condition, at least a portion of the innerflap projection being elasticized; and an outer flap projection, theouter flap projection extending laterally from the stem away from thelongitudinal axis and the inner flap projection to a distal end when theabsorbent article is in the relaxed condition, the outer flap projectionextending substantially parallel to the stem away from the longitudinalaxis when the absorbent article is in the stretched condition, at leasta portion of the inner flap projection being elasticized; a first foldline of the absorbent article for packaging being substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis on the first side of the longitudinal axis andextending from the front end edge to the rear end edge and through atleast a portion of the first containment flap including through at leastone of the inner flap projection of the first containment flap and theouter flap projection of the first containment flap when the absorbentarticle is in an unfolded and stretched condition; and a second foldline of the absorbent article for packaging being substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis on the second side of the longitudinal axis andextending from the front end edge to the rear end edge.
 17. Theabsorbent article of claim 16, wherein the second fold line extendsthrough at least a portion of the second containment flap including atleast one of the inner flap projection of the second containment flapand the outer flap projection of the second containment flap when theabsorbent article is in the unfolded and stretched condition.
 18. Theabsorbent article of claim 16, wherein the first fold line extendsthrough the at least a portion of the first containment flap at about anintersection between the stem, the inner flap projection, and the outerflap projection of the first containment flap.
 19. The absorbent articleof claim 18, wherein the second fold line extends through the secondcontainment flap at about an intersection between the stem, the innerflap projection, and the outer flap projection of the second containmentflap when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and stretchedcondition.
 20. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the first foldline extends through the outer flap projection of the first containmentflap.
 21. The absorbent article of claim 20, wherein the second foldline extends through the outer flap projection of the second containmentflap when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and stretchedcondition.
 22. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the first foldline extends through the inner flap projection of the first containmentflap.
 23. The absorbent article of claim 22, wherein the second foldline extends through the inner flap projection of the second containmentflap when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and stretchedcondition.
 24. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the first foldline extends through the at least a portion of the first containmentflap such that a top surface of the outer flap projection of the firstcontainment flap is not parallel to a top surface of the inner flapprojection of the first containment flap when the absorbent article isin the relaxed condition.
 25. The absorbent article of claim 24, whereinthe second fold line extends through the at least a portion of thesecond containment flap when the absorbent article is in the unfoldedand stretched condition such that a top surface of the outer flapprojection of the second containment flap is not parallel to a topsurface of the inner flap projection of the second containment flap whenthe absorbent article is in the relaxed condition.
 26. The absorbentarticle of claim 16, wherein the first fold line extends through the atleast a portion of the first containment flap such that the inner flapprojection of the first containment flap extends away from the stem ofthe first containment flap and upwards from the body facing liner andthe outer flap projection of the first containment flap extends awayfrom the stem of the first containment flap and upwards from the bodyfacing liner when the absorbent article is in an unfolded and relaxedcondition, and wherein the second fold line extends through the at leasta portion of the second containment flap when the absorbent article isin the unfolded and stretched condition such that the inner flapprojection of the second containment flap extends away from the stem ofthe second containment flap and upwards from the body facing liner andthe outer flap projection of the second containment flap extends awayfrom the stem of the second containment flap and upwards from the bodyfacing liner when the absorbent article is in the unfolded and relaxedcondition.